First Word Records proudly presents Ghouls, the sixth studio album from Bastien Keb—a 19-track journey through psychedelic chamber-funk, cinematic instrumentals, warped anti-ballads, and ethereal ambience.
Part soundtrack, part beat tape, part memoir, Ghouls feels like a dream stitched from late-night thoughts and faded memories. Entirely sample-free, Keb crafts each piece himself—layering strings, harps, saxophones, flutes, theremins, and more—drawing on the moods of films like Taxi Driver and La Haine, and the hazy nostalgia of mid-’90s skate videos.
Paris-based poet and composer Malik Ameer Crumpler contributes extensively, adding lyrical depth to the album’s introspective world. Keb describes the record as: “You’re half awake, and half asleep, but you’re warm…”
Following his acclaimed 2017 album 22.02.85, Ghouls marks a rich return to First Word, expanding on Keb’s genre-defying catalogue. With previous support from Gilles Peterson, Mary Anne Hobbs, Pitchfork, and The Guardian, this record further cements his status as one of the UK’s most singular musical voices.
“This record is for anyone feeling lost in a world that seems to have lost itself,” says Keb. “For those still noticing the distant lights.”
