There has certainly been no shortage of anticipation and hype surrounding the release of My Best Fiend’s debut album, In Ghostlike Fading. Of course, this means there has also been no shortage of attempts to describe the band’s sound. But perhaps the best description of their sound comes from the band itself – “It’s a noise that doesn’t fit into one idea.”

This Brooklyn five-piece creates a distinctive and eclectic sound, making it clear why Warp Records snapped them up.

Opening track and single, ‘Higher Palms’, forms an impressive start to In Ghostlike Fading with the ability to draw a listener in with a healthy degree of intrigue.

On first listening to the album, it’s the vocals that are immediately noticeable. They’re different and couldn’t be any further from those you’d hear in the Top 40 today. They have a marked punk feel to them, but when combined with the band’s music, become more melodic, but also more haunting. The vocals perfectly suit the album and are a credit to the band.

Similarly, the guitar work of each song quickly becomes an admirable feature of the album. Whether rhythm or lead, the guitars produce crisp, beautifully melodic tones as effortlessly as they do reverb-heavy riffs.

Throughout the album, My Best Fiend continually draws on a range of influences to create their sound. There is a definite nod to American alternative rock from the 90s that manifests itself in heavier guitar-laden tracks. At the same time though, a subtle psychedelic influence weaves its way through many of the tracks and, of course, the album artwork.

While there are heavier, more ‘rock’ moments on the album, they are not to be outdone by the band’s slower tracks. ‘Jesus Christ’ epitomises this slower, almost country/folk feel that My Best Fiend sustains throughout the album.

Overall, In Ghostlike Fading is a melancholy album, not only in its music, but also in the sombre, reflective tone that permeate the tracks. Yet, the songs, regardless of whether they are heavier rock songs or slower melodic songs, have a tendency to culminate in impressive anthemic peaks through distinctive guitars and choir-like backing vocals. This is perhaps most obvious in tracks like ‘One Velvet Day’ and ‘Cracking Eggs’.

However, perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the album is that the songs all sound very similar. My Best Fiend doesn’t display a great deal of versatility on the album, although I’m sure this is something they would be more than capable of. This does unfortunately detract from the album and may impact its longevity. Still, the album is more than worth a listen and is sure to delight alternative rock fans.

Review Score: 7.1 out of 10