The Boxer Rebellion have a knack for racing out of the blocks on their albums, often turning in an early trio of heavy hitters. The opening stages of ‘Union’ and ‘Promises’ were breathtaking, but on album six, ‘Ghost Alive’, we have a different beast entirely. This time, everything’s a little more refined.
During pre-production of the album, vocalist Nathan Nicholson learned of the death of his father by telephone. The loss changed him, bringing to the fore the insignificance of certain aspects of our existence. As is often the case with the passing of a loved one, the meaning of life became clear: it’s all about the people you share your time on this planet with.
Subsequently, it’s the lyrics that drive this album. “I lost you once, I won’t lose you again,” Nicholson sings at one point. On Goodnights, he implores: “Don’t say goodnight when it’s not right.” They have the capacity to really tug at the heartstrings, with Nicholson’s angelic falsetto never more suited to its surroundings.
There is a feeling of less is more throughout, with a minimalist approach dominating proceedings. The pulsating, uplifting choruses that left your nape hairs tingling have been replaced by songs so brittle you feel they could almost break apart in your hands were they tangible objects. They are just as powerful as the band’s more anthemic moments, but they go about their business in a more delicate manner.
Opener What The Fuck could take on a hundred different meanings, but it’s a bold statement to start an album with regardless. It is seeped in unplugged, emotional torment. “Who do you think you are?” Nicholson asks. The acoustic Rain and River, meanwhile, both feature beautiful, heartfelt vocal performances backed with brass and gentle percussion.
The fragile piano of Under Control recalls classic emotional juggernauts like Nilsson’s cover of Without You, while the chord sequence that forms the core of Love Yourself hints at Foreigner’s I Want To Know What Love Is. Matthew & The Atlas are recalled on the piano-led Fear and the most minimal track of all – Goodnight – closes the album in such an impassioned way that the more emotional among us could weep.
“‘Ghost Alive’ is an album that has become immensely comforting to me personally and one that would never have been what it is without loss,” Nicholson said of the record. It’s a powerful statement and a telling one, because this collection of songs could connect with anyone at some point.
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