The Black Ghosts

and the Dark Side of Dance Music

By Johnny Wombus

09.29.08

It’s a dark, gloomy night, and you’re stuck precariously in the middle of a graveyard. It’s quiet—too quiet. Your instincts tell you to run, as fast and as far away as you can, but another voice somewhere deep inside you stirs and says “Nay.” Suddenly, the earth begins to shake and a flock of crows in the distance chime in with their sinister cawing. A skeleton claws its way through the soil and strangely begins tapping and scratching its bones against the headstones. You have the urge to scream bloody murder, but that same voice telling you to stick around before begins to move your hips. Your limbs and neck follow suit, and this is unlike any dance you’ve done before.

Somewhere, probably from atop a DJ booth, Theo Keating and Simon Lord—also known as The Black Ghosts—are smiling upon you. The U.K.-based duo has made their name in music, crafting danceable tracks with depth by combing the netherworld for an uncomfortable sort of inspiration. When it comes to the supernatural, however, Keating and Lord each hold a special kind of pedigree. Keating was encouraged by his mother to look at horror films at an early age, and Lord’s grandmother was believed to be a true psychic. Here, Antics hid unsuspectingly around a corner to surprise Keating with a few questions regarding The Black Ghosts’ not-so-livelihood.

How did meeting Simon via the Internet, and working on material together before meeting in person shape the dynamic of The Black Ghosts?

It was good, because it meant that we could get straight into making the music, without having to find out whether we got on first! It also meant that we had very clear roles right from the start, and couldn’t second guess or interfere with the other guy’s work. So the songs came together really easily, and we just kept making them. There was no master plan. In fact we never even discussed making an album until we had about nine songs finished. It was only then that we decided this needed to be given a name and so we became The Black Ghosts.

What’s your favorite horror movie?

It’s hard to pick one favorite. But among the top few would be The Shining, The Thing, Ring (The Japanese original), The Exorcist, and Lucio Fulci’s four classics—Zombie Flesh Eaters, House by the Cemetery, City of the Living Dead, and The Beyond. There are loads of others I like. Although being into horror movies is kind of like supporting a crap football team. Most of the time they disappoint, and it’s embarrassing to claim your allegiance. But once in a while they excel themselves and make it all worthwhile.

What is it about the dark side of the supernatural that is so intriguing to you?

Hmm. I can’t say it’s something I’m particularly obsessed by. I just have a healthy curiosity based on a normal boy’s interest in ghoulish stuff when growing up! Fear minus actual danger is a rush we all enjoy—that’s why babies love it when you surprise them or say BOO! They get a little fright but know you’re actually their friend, so they laugh. And watching horror movies or an interest in the dark side is a grown-up extension of that same thing—chasing that same buzz.

What is your favorite Halloween costume of all time?

Man being held in cage by gorilla. It never fails to make me laugh.

Simon’s father used music and sound for practical, everyday purposes. Has this experience caused him to approach music from a different angle?

His dad used to build synthesizers as well, so one thing it has done is make him consider synths as valid instruments—just as much as guitars or whatever, which they are, of course. But sometimes people who have grown up with “traditional” instruments are suspicious of synths and keyboards, hence the stupid questions we still get asked like, “Are synths and computers really musical when compared to the guitar?” by idiotic rock journalists. But his grandmother was a composer of classical music, so he grew up with a balance and appreciation of all sorts of music and instrumentation.

What is your favorite non-musical pastime?

Other than snowboarding—because that’s only once in a while—drawing, reading and watching movies are my more regular ways to escape mentally.

Where do you go when you want to get away physically?

I hardly ever go on holiday. Nearly every trip I take is for gigs, etc. But once a year I try and go snowboarding. Just to be up a mountain with my friends is like a tonic.

Why is dance music the perfect vehicle for The Black Ghosts’ chosen uncomfortable subject matter?

Because dance music needn’t just be about ‘throwing your hands in the air’ and ‘feeling the beat’ etc. There is an attitude sometimes that dance music is some sort of brainless cousin to “real” music. But there is plenty of room there to write good songs with interesting lyrics. I think it comes down to what you consider “dance music.” Depeche Mode made music to dance to, but they are held in very high regard. The same goes for New Order, Eurythmics, Cabaret Voltaire, and so many others. I think it’s great to make music that has a twist like a David Lynch film—that all is not well under the surface.

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