Ghostory by School of Seven Bells

In 2010, School of Seven Bells downsized when the band lost Claudia Deheza, one of the twins who fronted the outfit, who left citing personal reasons. SVIIB was left without the bewitching harmonies created by Claudia and her sister Alejandra, a sound that fans had become so accustomed to. Claudia’s departure could have held back Alejandra and band mate Benjamin Curtis. Instead, the band’s new release Ghostory finds the duo tighter than ever.

The new version of SVIIB hold their own on Ghostory, an album that combines elements from their previous works. But this time around there is a more intense focus on specializing their own brand of synth pop. Ghostory is essentially a concept album that tells the story of a young girl named Lafaye and the ghosts that haunt her life.

The album opens with “The Night,” an upbeat pop song that leads into “Love Play,” a song featuring the seductive, breathy sounds of Alejandra’s unwavering voice. The third track, “Lafaye,” is the anchor of the album's narrative. The song gives the listener a peak into Lafaye’s life and the internal struggles she goes through with her ghosts. These three songs inflict feelings of longing and sadness for the things that are unattainable, and the listener wants more of the relatable, superb tunes.

SVIIB produce wispy, indulgent songs that lull listeners into a daze of electro-pop goodness. They make listeners want to nod their heads and sway along to the beat. Ghostory as an album is a combination of nostalgia for earlier shoegaze and human emotion with a pinch of something ethereal. For fans of late 80s synth pop, mid 90s ambient pop or sighing vocals, SVIIB have put out an album worth a good listen.

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Danielle Panabaker's Top Pop Picks
- Favorite Band: The Avett Brothers
  
  "I'm really into the Avett Brothers as of late."
- Favorite Book: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
  
  "My girlfriends are I - we are very nerdy. We started a book club and the first book we read was Gone Girl."
- Favorite New Movie: Silver Linings Playbook
  
  "I thought it was a great film and I thought Jennifer Lawrence was incredible, you know those angry tears, I've certainly experienced that."
Paul Van Dyk: Current Favorites
- School of the Seven Bells
  
  The New York-based band unites Benjamin Curtis of "Secret Machines" and Alejandra Deheza. Formed in 2007, the duo is named after a mythical South American pickpocket training academy of the same name.
- Linkin Park
  
  The Californian rock veterans have come a long way since 'Hybrid Theory.' Back now with their fifth studio album in over a decade, 'Living Things' is one of Paul Van Dyck's favorite albums this year.
- Jupiter Jones
  
  The German punk rock band formed in 2002, but has already released several LPs, including an eponymously-named album in 2011.
- Depeche Mode
  
  The legendary Essex electronic band from the 80s remains a classic for Van Dyk. It was also recently among 'Q' magazine's "50 Bands That Changed The World!".
Cody Simpson
- Favorite Movie
  I'm still really into the Ocean's series. I got into them recently. I was always too young to watch them.
- Favorite Book
  This book called Contest by Matthew Reilly, he's an Australian author.
- Favorite Album
  Drake's Take Care — big fan of that
- Favorite TV Show
  The Mentalist
Styx's Lawrence Gowan
- Bossypants by Tina Fey
  
  "That’s got me laughing hysterically on airplanes."
- Making Mirrors by Goyte
  
  "I thought that was a tremendous record."
- The Artist
  
  "It really impressed me."
- Keane
  
  "They’re really strong."
90210's Michael Steger: My Favorite Stuff
- Favorite TV Show: Rome
  
  HBO's series starring Cirian Hinds
- Favorite Album: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
  
  "Either that or The Gypsy Kings."
- Favorite Book: The Fountainhead
  
  "Probably my favorite book of all time."
- Favorite New Movie: Attack The Block
  
  “It reminded me of The Goonies.”