No single record destroyed me so immediately this year as Former Ghosts’ debut Fleurs; a devastating, beautiful collection of synth-pop odes. Lead songwriter and vocalist Freddy Ruppert, who wrote these songs as last-resort communications for an estranged lover, graciously gives some time for SCQ and discusses his current favourites. (Photo By Paul Rodriguez)
SCQ: What have been some of your favourite records of 2009? Gush away.
"The Spoils" by Zola Jesus is my favorite record of the year. This has to be one of the best records I have heard in a long time. Completely perfect. Nika's voice is amazing and the music is completely haunting. Reverbed out beats and keyboard lines and Nika's soaring operatic voice. Reminds me of everything I love about the classic 4AD records.
"Silk Flowers" by Silk Flowers - This record is amazing. Besides being three of the sweetest dudes I know, they make amazingly great minimal synth music. Some of it instrumental, some of it with the deep vocals of Aviram. All of it dark and haunting yet still catchy. We recently played a show with them in Brooklyn and it was great.
"The Glass Bead Game" by James Blackshaw - This record was put out this year by Young God Records. Pretty amazing instrumental music mainly using a 12 string guitar. But my favorite song on the record is 'Fix', which mainy utilizes piano. A lot of the pieces strike me as melancholic and has been the perfect soundtrack this year for long drives.
"Years of Refusal" by Morrissey - I don't need to talk about this. Yes I am completely biased.
Felt Drawings - compiled demos - unbelievably amazing and raw and honest and emotional electronic music. The programming is amazing and the sounds particularly damaged. Really, really, great.
SCQ: Be it from the radio, lost on Myspace or from your roster, what song(s) could you not stop spinning?
All songs by Tearist - http://www.myspace.com/teariststst - Tearist are currently my favorite band. They are unbelievable. And live they are just mesmerizing. It is really rare that you see someone make themselves fully vulnerable in the live setting but Yasmine does just that. Every time I see them I think it's the best show I've ever seen. I cannot wait for a record to come out.
SCQ: Seldom celebrated but crucial to The Album’s identity is cover-art. Can you offer any shortlist of personal favourites from the past year?
Morrissey's Years of Refusal. Come on?! Morrissey holding a baby?!? WTF?!?
SCQ: When you look back on what transpired this year, what will stand out as your most memorable musical moment(s) of 2009?
Me and Jamie getting in a fight with a horrible Pogues cover band at the Tavern on Main in the Gundo.
SCQ: Most of us probably haven’t thought as far as New Years Eve plans but still, looking forward, what do you have on the horizon for 2010?
Working on the next Former Ghosts album which will hopefully also be released in 2010 and planning a European tour as well as more North American tours, and death.
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