Recommended Tracks: “Strangers,” “Ordinary, Extraordinary,” “I Dream Of Home”
Similar artists: Ichiko Aoba, Cigarettes After Sex, Lana Del Rey
Serene. Placid. Tranquil. Harmonious. There are not enough words in the English language to describe the symphonic bliss of the talents within the successful musical project known as Ghostly Kisses. The French-Canadian duo, created by Margaux Sauvé and life partner Louis-Étienne Santais, dubbed their duo “Ghostly Kisses” with inspiration from the William Faulkner poem Une ballade des dames perdues, which contains the line, “And brush my lips with little ghostly kisses.”
First beginning their career in 2015, Margaux, a previous Psychology student, released her first single “Never Know.” Through consistent progress, more and more projects emerged; from their 2017 debut EP, What You See, to EPs such as Never Let Me Go and Alone Together to their debut full-length album, Heaven, Wait.
This newest album, Across The Pond, is a 10-track project carefully curated for a dreamy and wistful immersive experience. It took a few years to create this album, according to vocalist Margaux, but it makes perfect sense: all great masterpieces take time.
Opener “Fade from Me” is a melancholic plea to hold onto one who threatens to slip away from you. It describes not wanting to change, not wanting to wait for them to leave, but wanting everything to do with staying by their side, no matter what, before it’s too late. The haunting piano tied with Margaux’s soft vocals pulls the listeners into a ghostly (pun intended) auditory daydream.
“It’s A Feeling” pours into the emotional tie between the singer and the estranged lover. It’s a revelation of these feelings of wanting to hold on, but how long will these feelings last before it ends up hurting one or the other, or both?
“Strangers” seems to answer this question of uncertainty. With acoustics reminiscent of Clairo‘s work, the narrator reflects on how much her lover has changed. Distant and cold from the time they’ve been gone, the narrator wishes nothing more but to rewind time and relish in the warm moments the two once shared: “We’re strangers now / I wish I could find / The light we had / Lost in the clouds / We’re strangers now / Dust in the sound / There’s nothing to say anymore / Sincе you went away.”
The pre-released single “Ordinary, Extraordinary” floats back into the misty wonderland of the ebb and flow of emotions. Accompanied by a full orchestra and mellow piano, this song taps into the quivering realities of the relationship: it feels as if one can fly on the emotions of love alone, yet something doesn’t quite feel right—the magic seems to be missing. Regardless, the narrator knows that the end must come in order for both participants to truly heal:
“What if the end’s not a foe / But a place we’re meant to go? / Maybe we’ll heal as we fall / Through spaces, turning to salt / What if the end’s just a bend / A path where light doesn’t end? / Even if roads disappear / I’ll always wait for you here / When we’re together.”
“Bend” then serves as a bit of a interlude, tying back to the preceding track and repeating the same lyrics. Following is another pre-released single “Ease Your Mind,” a more upbeat track with a hopeful narrative. The narrator reassures their lover that they’re worth holding onto, even when they may wish to move on. Whenever things change, whenever heartbreak and doubt creep in, whenever faith begins to falter, this track pushes through these emotions to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
“Ghost of London” and “I Dream of Home” feel like the moment when the last threads snap and all is lost. In the lyrics of both, the narrator longs for devotion and true love—to feel the sun kissing their skin, to feel warmth and safety, yet never receiving it. Looking back at the destruction and ruin in the midst of the garden in “I Dream Of Home,” regret begins to sink in for not smelling the smoke earlier on.
But the tides seem to turn in “Devotion,” during which the narrator wishes their lover to feel the strength of their love and affection for them. Just as it was stated earlier, though, how long will this go on before it ends up hurting someone?
“White Doves” closes the album and reiterates this question. The narrator doesn’t know what to do, feeling as if drowning in their sorrow and willful hope will make the tides a bit less cruel. Yet we cannot tame the sea, just as we cannot tame the burning intensity of love, no matter how much it hurts us.
With the release of this beautiful album, much success is predicted to befall this talented band. You can stream the full album now.
The duo is also set to be touring in North America this fall with special guest Rosie Carney and Orchestre FILMharmonique on select dates. Tickets are available now here.
Ghostly Kisses Tour Dates:
*= with Rosie Carney
#= with Orchestre FILMharmonique
- Sept 14 – Manhattan, NY – Le Poisson Rouge*
- Sept 15 – Washington, DC – Songbyrd*
- Sept 17 – Chicago, IL – Schubas Tavern*
- Sept 19 – Seattle, WA – Neumos*
- Sept 20 – Portland, OR – Polaris Hall*
- Sept 23 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent*
- Sept 25 – Highland Park, CA – Lodge Room*
- Oct 1 – Toronto, ON – The Great Hall*
- Oct 9 – Québec, QC – Grand Théâtre de Québec#
- Oct 16 – Montreal, QC – Maison Symphonique#
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