Genre/Influences: Electronic, Ambient.

Format: Digital, CDR, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Some of you might remember the excellent Code-album “The Architect” released in 1995 (!) on Third Mind. After this album, which I still have here at home, Code disappeared from the sonic radars to strike back this year with this new album featuring ten songs.

Content: It all feels like this band never stopped composing music, unleashing a mature and diversified production. The sound is more like the result of different influences and styles instead of one specific music genre. There clearly is something 90s like running through the work. The songs are mainly driven by slow rhythms while the sound treatments are filled with numerous space-like effects. The album is mixing dreamy passages with danceable songs featuring a Technoid touch on top. Most of the tracks are instrumental edits, but there are also several sung parts.

+ + + : “Ghost Ship” is a great artistic resurrection revealing a talented band. Code has a nose to compose an intelligent and fascinating work. I like the retro / 90s touch, which sometimes reminds me of some Orbital stuff. The work is sophisticated, but always accessible featuring beautiful synth sounds, subtle bleeps and dreamy astral sound arrangements. I like the danceable vibes at “The Building”, but I also recommend the opening song “Origin”, which gives you a real good view of the album’s style and potential.

– – – : The album brings us also back in time featuring a reworked and updated version of the first single “Light Years” released in 1992. This song is not exactly my favorite, but just a nice wink to the past.

Conclusion: I’m always a bit skeptical about bands getting back into business after such a long hiatus, but “Ghost Ship” is a cool and fully enjoyable piece of Electronics. 

Best songs: “The Building”, “Origin”, “Breathe Slow”, “Bourbon Street”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: https://lo-tek.co.uk/artists/code

Label: https://lo-tek.co.uk