Blondie - Ghosts Of Download (Review)

Marking Blondie’s 40th anniversary, their first LP in three years is as fresh as anything they’ve ever released, and that's some statement.

I have had the privilege of listening to Ghosts Of Download for a few days now while travelling and even now I feel like double-checking that opening track Sugar On The Side is actually by the band, you know, Blondie. The track featuring Colombian collective Systema Solar, isn't immediately recognisable as being by Blondie, until the unmistakable voice of Debbie Harry reassures that this most definitely is them. It does, however, offer a taste of what’s to come.

A host of guest artists are featured including Beth Ditto who the band collaborate on A Rose By Any Name. It results in a chorus you’ll have trouble forgetting ‘If you’re a boy or if you’re a girl, I love you just the same, wherever you go, all over the world, a rose by any name’.

Those who saw Blondie live last year will remember their surprise cover of Frankie Goes To Hollywood's Relax, the  harmonies combine with a haunting piano refrain beautifully anticipates the disco-like beat that eventually kicks in.

Of the remaining tracks, Take It Back stands out as something the band might have released in their 1999 Maria era: melody with an edge and an infectious energy.  Backroom finishes the album by bringing us back down to earth in the manner of a chill-out room rather than with a bump.

One thing to take from Ghosts Of Download is that out of twelve brand new tracks, no two sound alike.  By the end of one song you’re itching to hear what’s coming next.  Touches of reggae, Latin, dance, disco, pop and yes, electro-punk, are all audible throughout the album. This may sound like a rather eclectic mix but Blondie make it work in a way only they can.

Ghosts Of Download may be the band’s tenth studio album but with it nobody could accuse Blondie of being boring.  It’s lively and fun with little surprises around every corner. The legendary New Yorkers have pushed their sound forward to produce something that is recognisable as a Blondie record but not at the cost of abandoning their roots.

While established fans will undoubtedly appreciate this fresh new sound, it’s also likely to attract a whole new generation of Blondie fans.

Watch Debbie and the band on 40 years of Rock n Roll (via BBC)