ERIK VOEKS & THE GHOSTERS - It Means Nothing Now (LP)

ERIK VOEKS & THE GHOSTERS - It Means Nothing Now (HPR-074)

Format: LP (limited edition of 300 copies)
Release date: January 2024

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The Ghosters are a Spanish-American pop super-group of sorts: Juan Ferrari (guitars, keyboards) has played with Los Sentidos, Los Potros, Los Brujos, Malcolm Scarpa & The Jacquelines, Santi Campos, Clovis, Jonston, Pablo Guerrero; Pepe Bermejo (bass guitar, vocal) is a member of The Happy Losers and Los Imposibles; and Patrick Hawley (drums, percussion) has played with Pansy Division, Prisonshake and Adam Schmitt.

And you may already know who Erik Voeks is. Though he only just released a few singles (on legendary indie labels Bus Stop & Parasol), and the classic 1993 album "Sandbox" (recorded with a cast of friends that included Adam Schmitt, Patrick Hawley, Jay Bennett, Steve Scariano and Nick Rudd), Erik Voeks' music has resonated deep with a small but dedicated group of powerpop aficionados throughout the world. "Lost treasure", "hidden gem" are expressions often used to describe "Sandbox", which was rereleased digitally in 2013. For years he kept a low profile, but he never gave up music recording home demos, playing with a few friends as The Octopus Frontier, or even touring in the U.S. and Europe with Jon Dee Graham. In late 2012 Spring Records released on vinyl a 4-song EP titled "Free Range", that received rave reviews. Since then, Erik has kept himself busy putting out more new recordings through his bandcamp page, playing shows and touring Spain a couple of times. In 2016 Hanky Panky put out "So The Wind Won't Blow It All Away" which gathered a series of digital only singles Erik released monthly that year (from April to September), and two new recordings. The album gained much critical acclaim and was the number 1 album of the year on John Borack’s Power Pop Plus! List.

After touring Spain in 2017 as Erik Voeks & The Spanglish Settlement, Erik, Juan, Pepe and Patrick decided to record an album together. Plans were made for the four of them to meet up in Spain to finish the album, but the pandemic interfered and the recording process took a long and winding road. Being late is better than never, as they say, and “It Means Nothing Now” is finally here. “Pure pop magic” says the Powerpopaholic website. Who are we to disagree?

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Sí, se podría decir que The Ghosters son una especie de “pop super-group” transoceánico: Juan Ferrari (guitarras, teclados) ha tocado con Los Sentidos, Los Potros, Los Brujos, Malcolm Scarpa & The Jacquelines, Santi Campos, Clovis, Jonston, Pablo Guerrero; Pepe Bermejo (bajo, voz) es miembro de The Happy Losers y Los Imposibles; y Patrick Hawley (batería, percusión) ha tocado con Pansy Division, Prisonshake y Adam Schmitt.

Y quizás ya sepas quién es Erik Voeks. Aunque solo publicó algunos singles (en los legendarios sellos independientes Bus Stop & Parasol) y el clásico álbum de 1993 "Sandbox" (grabado con un elenco de amigos que incluía a Adam Schmitt, Patrick Hawley, Jay Bennett, Steve Scariano y Nick Rudd), la música de Erik Voeks ha resonado profundamente en un pequeño pero dedicado grupo de aficionados al powerpop en todo el mundo. "Tesoro perdido", "joya escondida" son expresiones que se utilizan a menudo para describir "Sandbox", que se reeditó digitalmente en 2013. Durante años Erik mantuvo un perfil bajo, pero nunca dejó de grabar música, tocar con algunos amigos como The Octopus Frontier, o incluso realizar una gira por Estados Unidos y Europa con Jon Dee Graham. A finales de 2012, Spring Records lanzó en vinilo un EP de 4 canciones titulado "Free Range", que recibió excelentes críticas. Desde entonces, Erik se ha mantenido ocupado sacando más grabaciones nuevas a través de su página bandcamp, tocando en directo y girando por nuestro país un par de veces. En 2016, Hanky Panky publicó "So The Wind Won't Blow It All Away", su primer disco largo en más de 20 años y que reunia una serie de sencillos digitales que Erik lanzó mensualmente ese año (de abril a septiembre). El disco obtuvo muchos elogios de la crítica y fue el álbum número 1 del año en la influyente “Power Pop Plus List” de John Borack.

Después de girar por España en 2017 como Erik Voeks & The Spanglish Settlement, Erik, Juan, Pepe y Patrick decidieron grabar un disco juntos. Se hicieron planes para que los cuatro se reunieran en España para terminar el disco, pero la pandemia interfirió y el proceso de grabación tomó un camino largo y sinuoso. Llegar tarde es mejor que nunca, como dicen, y “It Means Nothing To Me Now” finalmente está aquí. “Pura magia pop”, dice el sitio web Powerpopaholic y, ¿quiénes somos para estar en desacuerdo?

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All songs written by Bermejo, Ferrari, Hawley & Voeks

The Ghosters are:

Juan Ferrari: Guitars, keyboards.
Pepe Bermejo: Bass guitar, vocals.
Patrick Hawley: Drums, percussion.
Erik Voeks: Vocals, guitar.

Recorded at Sandusky Sound, Temple Sound, Weights and Measures Soundlab, Rolltop, La Quinta Disminuida and Village Green.

Mixed by: Duane Trower (tracks 1,3,5,6,8,11,12).
Adam Schmitt (tracks 4,9,10).
Pepe Bermejo (tracks 2,7).

Mastered by Duane Trower at Weights and Measures Soundlab.

Horns composed/arranged by Ryan Oldham.
Horn session produced by David George.
Horns played by: Brett Jackson, Peter Fucinaro, Kristen Nall, Nate Nall.

Artwork by Sonia M Paredero.

Thanks to: Coleen, Ryan Oldham, David George, Duane Trower, Adam Schmitt, Jack Petracek, JB Moreland, Bárbara, Olivia, Alberto León, Kike and Yani Marinelli for continuous faith, trust and cheer up, and Sonia for her beautiful artwork.
Pepe would like to thank Erik, Patrick and Juan

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ERIK VOEKS & THE GHOSTERS - It Means Nothing Now (HPR-074)

Side A
1. It Means Nothing Now 2. Hazy Maze 3. Everything Dissolves 4. Hieronymus 5. The Most Confusing Part

Side B
1.- Suck It Up, Buttercup 2. Slowness Of The Moment 3. It Breaks You 4. Love You Anyway 5. Break Away 6. The Last Notes of The Song

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