REVIEW

The second album from U.S. synth-pop / dream-pop duo CD Ghost.

Based in Los Angeles, CD Ghost consists of Cody Han (vocals, guitar, synthesizers) and Blake Dimas (synthesizers). The duo began in 2020 and, after releasing three EPs, issued their debut full-length, Night Music, through Born Losers Records in 2022. They followed it with the Vignette I (2023) and Vignette II (2024) EPs, and in 2024, their North American headline tour included multiple sold-out shows.

CD Ghost have built their sound around sleek synthesizers and electronic beats, bringing synth-pop into the shadowy territory of goth and darkwave. On When The Rain Stops, however, guitars take on a much larger role, expanding their sound toward dream pop and indie rock. Softly propulsive synth bass, drum-machine rhythms, shimmering guitars, and gentle vocals come together to bring a warm glow to the melancholic nighttime atmosphere that has long defined the duo.

That shift is particularly evident on #3 “Lost and Found.” Its sparkling guitars and floating melodies evoke the dream-pop sensibility of Wild Nothing, while a hazy sense of nostalgia lingers throughout. The accompanying music video reinforces this change visually, featuring the duo performing as a guitar, bass, and drums lineup in home-video-style footage.

That said, the album does not make a full transition into dream pop. Instead, CD Ghost weave guitars into their established electronic sound, allowing the two sides to blend naturally.

On #5 “Fallen Angels,” the darkwave and post-punk influences that have been present since before the duo’s debut album come further to the forefront. The track carries the feeling of wandering through a city at night, while the wistful vocals preserve the darker allure rooted in goth. Images of loneliness, downfall, and salvation in the lyrics deepen the song’s shadowy atmosphere.

The closing track, #10 “Castles,” layers expansive guitar tones over a slow, unhurried rhythm, leaving behind a lingering afterglow that feels fitting for the album’s final moments.

From the nocturnal world represented by Night Music, When The Rain Stops moves toward a quiet sense of renewal. By introducing guitars more prominently into their sound, CD Ghost broaden their musical palette while maintaining the electronic foundation that has defined them, pointing toward a new direction for the duo.

The rain of sorrow has finally stopped, and beyond the morning mist, a pale light slowly washes the shadows of night away.