Dark embers in neon light
When I heard ‘Ghost Town’ by Wants for the first time, I knew immediately: something is happening here that appeals to me precisely where synth pop becomes exciting for me. To be honest, I don't know the original at all – Ska has never really appealed to me musically, so I deliberately chose not to listen to it. This means I can listen to this version completely impartially – as a song in its own right.
What immediately impresses me is the power, crispness and fresh energy with which Wants charges this piece. The synth sounds seem familiar, as if they came from a treasure chest full of classics, and yet everything sounds new and danceable. For me, ‘Ghost Town’ is not a cobbled-together mash-up of genre set pieces, but rather a loving homage to the big names and defining sounds of synth pop.
The bleak mood of the lyrics – the image of a city whose clubs have fallen silent and whose dance floors have been replaced by chaos – unfolds here with a different, modern drama. Wants combines dark, pulsating synth lines with edgy post-punk guitars and strong, emotional vocals.
Listen to "Wants – Ghost Town (The Specials Cover)" on Spotify
Listen to "Wants – Ghost Town (The Specials Cover)" on Bandcamp
Lyrics of "Ghost Town" originally by The Specials
This town, is coming on a ghost town
All the clubs, have been closed down
The bands won't play no more,
There's too much fighting on the dance floor
Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town?
We danced we sang, and the music played in the boomtown