Spirits high for Nine Inch Nails

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THERE must have been strange goings on at the Reznor household when Nine Inch Nail's new release, the four-part, two-hour Ghosts I-IV, was conceived.

Of late Nine Inch Nails have been playing it straight, with albums Year Zero and With Teeth demonstrating a more guitar-based approach to their brand of dark and dangerous industrial music.

However the Ghosts EP are instrumental, largely computer generated opuses more akin to experimental classical compositions, meandering IDM or works of sound art.

And they're magnificent.

Listening to the 36 unnamed tracks at times feels like being inside an intense computer game or a horror movie, and at other times you forget there's music on at all the feeling is so ethereal and atmospheric.
Admittedly some times you just need that quick blast of high octane, but when you're in the mood for a more recreational listen, Ghosts will be just the vehicle.

Throughout the many years of releases that make up their extensive back catalogue, Trent Reznor's Nine Inch Nails have always been a reliable source of challenging and unexpected music with real shock value – and Ghosts continues that tradition while simultaneously breaking their own mould.