Lusitanian Ghosts return with their latest single ‘For The Wicked’, following the recent release of uplifting ode to life and love ‘All the Sounds’. The international collective is led by singer-songwriter and producer Neil Leyton and Swedish guitarist, singer and multi-instrumentalist Micke Ghost, with a cast of musical associates, including João Sousa, Janne Olsson, Vasco Ribeiro Casais (aka OMIRI) and Abel Beja of Primitive Reason.
This time Lusitanian Ghosts switch gears, moving in a more wistful direction while still making innovative use of their trademark Portuguese chordophone instruments. ‘For The Wicked’ is an ardent political address that speaks to a lost and apathetic society, accompanied by Lusitanian Ghosts’ masterful backdrop of ancient strings: the viola Amarantina, viola Braguesa, viola Campaniça (on loan from O Gajo) and viola Terceira.
It is a melodically vivid and passionate reckoning of those with self-righteous beliefs that sanctimoniously disregard the welfare of humanity, believing only in their own worth. It’s tinged with hostility and resentment, while also providing a strangely celebratory sense of melancholia as the track builds gradually to its anthemic finale.
Speaking of the single’s focal point, Neil Leyton says; “Like the Manics’ “Design for Life”, I am not singing the chorus in my own voice but rather I’m taking on the role of those high-and-mighty power-hungry populists, the ruling elites or even religious zealots who believe bad things will never happen to them because they’re closer to god”.
Lilting yet sharp in its lyricism, the track switches seamlessly from a repetitive staccato to a euphoric flood of sound, drawing out the song’s themes and commentary. As Neil sums up, “This one is an open critique against religious or political extremism, populism, or any other kind of anti-humanist behaviour. To the Wicked we say: good riddance!”
‘For The Wicked’ is out on 13th November 2020 via European Phonographic: lnk.to/FortheWicked
For all media enquiries contact
Anastasia Connor (UK) – anastasia@noiseunit.co
Jeroen Siebens (European radio) – jeroen@radioplugging.eu