Ghost Train

Ghost Train

"Zombie Rock"

"Ghost Train" is one of the best things Gorillaz ever did. The song is a masterpiece from start to finish and the fact that it isn't more present among the band's massive discography, astounds me. "Ghost Train" (along with album track "Punk") was one of the first tracks ever recorded by the band. It was done before Dan The Automator, Kid Koala and Del got involved, just Damon Albarn and the 13 Studios crew mucking about somewhere between 1998 and 2000.

At this point, Jamie Hewlett only made a couple sketches of the band. The main sketch (pictured above) showed that the band was called "Gorilla" and had 2D's then girlfriend Paula Cracker as the guitarist instead of Noodle. It also had an actual gorilla in the band who played bongos (which explains the frantic percussion that appears on this track).

The song starts with a the sound of a record being repeatedly turned on and stopped, this song appears in the background throughout the entire song. Then Damon starts singing in falsetto while an army of vocals clap and chant "Ghost Train" back to him. It's like a gospel song gone to hell with Damon's smooth yet fragile falsetto and his choir of backing vocals egging him on. But then the song changes...

All of a sudden the track is anchored by a sample of the main riff of The Human League's "Sound Of The Crowd". As awesome as The Human League are, I think there's a strong argument that Damon used their riff better. The synthetic bass and drum machine is a powerful back up to the soul influenced vocals Damon started before. Damon also adds another hook in to egg the listener on: "C'MON! C'MON! C'MON! (GHOST TRAIN!!)" The percussion and synths get more frantic till soon everything stops and comes back again. This time it's just the sample alone with Damon's vocals, stripping the track down after the chaos that came before.

Now all of the track's previous instrumentation comes back while Damon delivers a gonzo attempt at rap that remains incoherent and distorted by his production. Then the guitars come in and all of a sudden the track becomes anthemic. It's as if Damon decided that his big hit with Blur, "Song 2" ,with it's catchy "woo hoos" wasn't hype enough and wanted to one up it. The guitars mesh with the sample and synths for one last hook to egg em on: "C'MON! C'MON! C'MON!", he chants. Soon the track ends in a mess of guitar feedback and synth wails, a big rock ending for a fantastic song.

Damon's lyrics aren't really the muscle behind the track, more of the melody and notes he uses to convey his writing. However in the lyrics, Damon seems to be afraid, there may actually be a ghost train coming after him. In the band's home, Kong Studios, there are demons and spirits all around so it's not impossible that 2D is singing about his fear of a ghost train coming to get him. Some of the synths even sound like a train coming closer and closer.

"Ghost Train" ended up being forgotten, it didn't make it on the album possibly because it was too "rock" for the direction Damon wanted to take the album in. It eventually was released when the villain character, Dr Wurzel, stole bassist Murdoc's winnebago and found the demo tape for the song inside the vehicle. He then released it online on his website "Dr Wurzel's Surgery", where it could be downloaded for free. The band eventually did release it as a b-side for their single, "Rock The House".

The fact that "Ghost Train" was never played live is shocking. This song seems built for the stage with it's anthemic stomping groove and catchy melody. It would have been a perfect encore for the band's first tour (a problem which the band was facing, having played all of their material as an hour long main set, audiences were often disappointed when the band didn't come out for an encore). I have a band who often uses "Ghost Train" as an encore piece in shows and it ALWAYS kills. Keep in mind that some of the people in these crowds probably have never heard of Blur or Damon Albarn, or even have listened to any Gorillaz tracks other than "Clint Eastwood" or "Feel Good Inc." Yet you can still see them singing along to the track's hook and feeling the rhythm of an obscure b-side by a band that they don't really know! "Ghost Train" is a powerful track and is one of the many gems in the Gorillaz catalog.