When HANIA RANI reintroduced herself this spring with ‘Hello’, the preliminary taster for her new album, GHOSTS, it most likely startled many who’ve come to love her work. Otherworldly yet upbeat, its mischievous melody, eloquent Rhodes piano, sparkling synths and nimble rhythms offered little indication of the New Classical style with which her acclaimed solo debut, 2019’s Esja, is sometimes associated. The song’s playful use of vocals and generally frisky nature is also at odds with the mood of 2020’s Home, Esja’s expansive follow up, where she first unveiled her remarkable voice and proved herself similarly inspired with electronic processing and arrangements. The truth, however, is that nothing she’s recorded gave advance warning of ‘Hello’, and that’s still not it’s most striking attribute. Instead, that’s how it represents just one of GHOSTS’ many dimensions, in turn making it a perfect initiation to HANIA RANI’s supernatural talent.
