Pantomime Horse – Everyone’s A Ghost (2025)
Born of a bunch of pre-pandemic emails by long-time friends – the first contact in nearly 30 years – Nigel Kirkby, Tony Laming and Rob Silber came together as Pantomime Horse. The gentlemen describe Pantomime Horse as “Old friendships rekindled for unfinished business… the songs deal with the passing of time, with those that we love, the triumphs and disasters we all face eventually. Personal experiences wrapped up in small narratives…” – a band that has the authenticity of lived moments, the flair of Britpop influences, and the heartfelt relatability that grabs you and makes you think, “oh, well, someone gets it”.
Following their 2025 single, ‘Plastic Glasses TV’, ‘Everyone’s A Ghost’ is a psychedelic sweep of vintage Britpop locked in a kaleidoscopic sonic bubble. I find leanings toward my favourite Britpop band, Dodgy, with the melodic flood of bass, bold drums and soaring guitars. A leaning toward the power-pop tones of the 1980s; however, it’s the tender intimacy of a song that unpicks vulnerability, making it seem retro and kept to a particular era without being locked in that time. The timeless track of today, tomorrow and yesterday.
Toe-tapping and head-bopping with infectious lyricism, ‘Everyone’s A Ghost’ is upbeat, fun and oozes with optimistic melodic charm, but it’s not so simple. While I find myself singing the line, “Is Carrie Ok?” over and over again, the tale of Carrie is more profound, poignant and adds weightiness to a full-bodied melody. Pantomime Horse explains:
“This song is particularly personal for Rob, since it relays the ongoing aftermath of his wife’s loss of sight… his wife lost her eyesight in 2022, further to severe and undiagnosed diabetic retinopathy. The song is sung from his wife’s perspective… crafted to express the constant oscillation from tragedy to survival; from independence to dependence; from resignation to resilience. In Karen’s world, everything’s invisible, everyone’s a ghost, and no one grows old.”
In addition to the single, Pantomime Horse released an official music video for ‘Everyone’s A Ghost’. You can view the video below and/or on their YouTube channel.
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This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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