48 HILLS // December 18, 2019
”Embracing the offbeat, which manifests itself by way of avant-pop/experimental jazz moments, GFO stays comfortable employing uneasy time signatures, tone bending frequencies, big horns, and soulful vocals that commit to the honesty of a mood.”
48 HILLS // March 29, 2022
”At times the 11-piece outfit transforms into the best version of a psych-rock band gone rhythm-obsessed and cinematically engrossed.”
48 HILLS // September 1, 2022
”If the Marvel cinematic universe needs a boost to get new people into seats for the next onslaught of films, they should hire multi-instrumentalist Seth Applebaum to score that shit. He’s the brainchild and lead cat wrangler of Ghost Funk Orchestra, a New York psychedelic band of which I can’t get enough […] They brought the fun back to funk.”
AMERICAN SONGWRITER // November 9, 2020
”With no prior animation experience, Applebaum was able to create this animated music video in about two months. His hard work doesn’t go unnoticed as it takes a lot of time and patience to teach yourself this type of design.”
AMERICAN SONGWRITER // November 10. 2020
“You couldn’t ask for a more comforting, even calming soundtrack for these divisive, unsettling times.”
ANOTHER WHISKEY FOR MISTER BUKOWSKI // August 29, 2019
"C’est une funk langoureuse qui sent la sueur avec de l’afro jazz dedans. La mélodie est lente composé par le multi-instrumentiste Seth Applebaum. Elle est aussi mystérieuse et psychédélique portée par la voix de Laura Gwynn. C’est un mélange, un cocktail dont tu n’arrives pas sentir tout les ingrédients mais qui te réchauffe le cœur et te charme. Ca te met de la crème au whisky dans les oreilles."
ANOTHER WHISKEY FOR MISTER BUKOWSKI // Feburary 2, 2024
”Dans cet extrait, Romi Hanoch débute sur une mélodie jazzy qui se transforme en quelques choses de plus grand, de plus spatiale avec des extraits de la mission apollo. Puis le saxophone de Stuart Bogie et on rentre dans un free jazz puissant et grandiloquent. Le solo a la fin est complétement fou. J’ai très hate d’entendre la suite du projet.”
AUSTIN TOWN HALL // October 29, 2023
”NY’s Ghost Funk Orchestra kept the party going with their sonic kaleidoscope. Another surprise for me in an evening that just kept. getting. better! The ten piece act with powerful brass section were simply cathartic.”
BANDCAMP // August 23, 2019
”Ghost Funk Orchestra’s A Song for Paul is a dazzling experimental jazz record. The New York-based collective describes their sound as ‘blurring the line between soul and psychedelic,’ and that rings true on A Song for Paul […] Ghost Funk Orchestra is making music on their own terms and A Song for Paul is a solid entry point to their sound.”
BANDCAMP // August 26, 2019
”What A Song for Paul resembles more than anything else is an old private press library record—and true crate-diggers will recognize that as the compliment it is meant to be. Those albums are filled out with songs in a wide array of styles, and are designed to suit the musical needs of a wide array of films. The main difference is that A Song for Paul isn’t out to suit anyone’s needs but Applebaum’s, and based on the songs here, it seems like his primary need is to leave no funk-adjacent genre unexplored. That he does so with such craft, skill, and panache is a significant bonus.”
BILLBOARD // April 1, 2020
”Just two weeks later, Applebaum is releasing the first video installment of Ghost Funk's Quarantine Orchestra, for which he gathered more than 30 session musicians in New York and beyond to collaborate on a song cover from the safety of their homes […] The result offers a beam of positivity in uncertain times […] But more than a singular video, the project is helping create a community for session musicians who are out of work due to coronavirus-related gig cancellations, including Applebaum himself.”
BROOKLYN VEGAN // July 29, 2019
”NYC collective Ghost Funk Orchestra make music that blends psych, funk, surf and other styles into their own groovy, mysterious sound.”
BROOKLYN VEGAN // August 23, 2019
”It’s clear Applebaum knows what he wants as the ensemble’s new album, A Song For Paul, really nails a certain sound that falls somewhere between Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, The Free Design and David Axelrod […] Can you describe an album as an awesome hang? Well, Ghost Funk Orchestra have made it.”
BROOKLYN VEGAN // November 13, 2020
“If last year's ‘A Song for Paul’ tipped its hat to Marvin Gaye and David Axelrod, this new one explores warmer climates, mixing breezy Sergio Mendes tropicalia with Roy Ayers' funkiness while still exuding that loungey vibe. The word that really comes to mind with Ghost Funk Orchestra is ‘groovy,’ and they are in full command of that vibe on ‘An Ode To Escapism.’”
BTRtoday // August 13, 2019
”The eight-piece (and sometimes bigger) band exploded with sound and made the music echo blocks away from the rooftop venue. Their funky yet spooky sound hit perfectly for the grungy Brooklyn punks wanting to put their cool cat vibes on hold to dance like crazy. During their set you saw both roughed-up leather chained freaks dancing in harmony with colorful mod-inspired fashionistas—a beautiful sight.”
BUSHWICK DAILY // September 4, 2019
”The brainchild of producer and multi-instrumentalist Seth Applebaum, Ghost Funk Orchestra just shared their debut album, A Song For Paul, an ambitious 15-song collection that’s otherworldly in nature with a unique sound that's impossible to pin down. From cover to cover, the album blends a hodge-podge of influences and genres including jazz, surf-rock, pop, and soul, rolling them all up into the group’s own vibrant brand of avant-garde psychedelia that defies characterization.”
ByteFM // August 28, 2019
”Er packt Elemente und Verweise genreübergreifend zusammen, schert sich einen Teufel darum, ob die Konventionen das erlauben und erschafft dabei schließlich ein eigenständiges Werk. Eine Aufgabe, an der Tarantino bisweilen scheitert."
ByteFM // November 13, 2020
”Jede Menge Spaß mit funky Versatzstücken aus dem Fundus der Popgeschichte hat die Band Ghost Funk Orchestra aus New York. Ihr Song „King Of Misdirection“ ist unser Track des Tages und auf dem neuen Album des Projekts um Geisterfunkorchesterleiter Seth Applebaum erschienen.”
ByteFM // September 4, 2022
”Im dichten Arrangierstil der Spät-60er-Pop-Orchester vermischt er 50er-Exotica mit Funk, Soul und gelegentlich auch Jazz. Dabei verbietet ihm der Respekt vor seinen Vorbildern den Versuch, ihre Musik nachzubauen. Stattdessen lässt er sein Orchester psychedelische, funky Musik spielen, in der die Geister der Vergangenheit herumtollen.”
C-VILLE // September 18, 2019
"GFO has expanded into a dexterous 10-piece that whips up a killer brew of psychedelic funk, Latin rock, and cosmic jazz—even the clarinet solo on ‘Broken Boogaloo’ is dank. With no songs cracking the four-minute mark the album cruises along, and the blunted production fits like a glove. A Song For Paul is like a classy but loose throwdown. You should hang."
CLASH // Feburary 22, 2024
”Out now, ‘Eyes Of Love’ bubbles with percussive allure, the beat continually dragging you closer to the stereo. Blessed with a fully three-dimensional arrangement, the track shimmers with soulful appeal, blending some early 70s aspects with modern notes of invention.”
COLEMINE RECORDS
”This is a group we truly believe will become a prolific force in the modern psychedelic scene.”
CONCERT BUDDY // July 12, 2020
”Wearing buzz and good response from his Ghost Funk Orchestra and a no-fear, genre-bending approach to productions, at thirty-one Seth is working steadily to bring more of his phantasmic Super 8 type creations to the world.’
DANSENDE BEREN // December 23, 2020
”De trippelende Rhodespiano en het doemdenkende blaasorkest maken de boel dampend heet, meer dan eender welke houtkachel voor elkaar krijgt, al is de slagzin op dit album vooral ‘hoe vreemder hoe beter’. Ben je te vinden voor een opwindende mix van jazz, soul en vlijmscherpe funky gitaarpartijtjes, dan is de nieuwe van Ghost Funk Orchestra echt wat voor jou.”
DANSENDE BEREN // April 4, 2021
“Het nummer klinkt donker en mysterieus, maar weet op een onweerstaanbaar zwoele manier het funkvuurtje in je hart aan te wakkeren. Dansen en kronkelen gaat ook bij kaarslicht, en des te beter op de tonen van ‘Asphalt Homeland.’”
DUSTY GROOVE // Walk Like A Motherfucker 7”
”There's lots of echo around the edges, which continues as the female vocal comes into play – almost making the whole thing feel like some lost vocal number from a movie on the late show!”
DUSTY GROOVE // A Song For Paul
”A set that's definitely funky, but which maybe has a lot more going on as well – richer production moments that move between ambitious soundscapes and fuzzier freakouts – but all without losing the groove at the core! The record's billed as ‘mysterious,’ but really seems to come from the talents of Seth Applebaum – a great producer and arranger who manages to keep all the tight elements at the core, including some great bass and drums – while also letting things freak out up top a bit more – almost as if David Axelrod were given the chance to work with some of the younger funk combos in recent years.”
DUSTY GROOVE // An Ode To Escapism
”This one-man orchestra just keeps on getting better and better with each new record – working with the funk you'd expect from the name, but also all these cool and moody touches that mix together David Axelrod-like ambition with some of the sharper snap of hip hop production! This time around, Seth Applebaum has a fair bit of strings and horns in the mix – plus added voices, some strong lead singers – and an array of sonic touches that make for a richness that's much deeper than it is ghostly!”
EARMILK // August 24, 2019
”’Modern Scene’ has a magical, mystical way about it as the beat lumbers around with depth but also the lightness and agility to switch things up on a dime. The jazzier elements of the track are calculated and measured with profound wisdom that evokes the greats like Sun Ra or Pharoah Sanders. The haunting vocals command the scene with a steadfast delivery that cuts to the soul. This is music designed for a spacey sunset drive or a stoney journey into uncharted territory, finding ways to address both the dark and light ends of the tonal spectrum equally, creating a beautiful balance that feels effortless.”
ECOUSTICS // February 5, 2021
”Every so often an album comes along that totally throws me for a loop in the best way possible; sending me on a sonic journey into uncharted musical territory. I was lucky enough to encounter one of these albums in 2020.”
EL PAíS // March 4, 2021
“Aunque, Fernando, como todo habitante de una tienda de discos, da su recomendación: Ghost Funk Orchestra. ‘Todo el mundo se lo termina llevando encantado al oírlo.’ No ha acabado de decir esta frase cuando se levanta a por el vinilo con el objetivo de ponerlo en el plato, bajar la aguja y dejar que el groove adictivo y líquido de esta banda de Nueva York arrase con todo, especialmente con el oyente nuevo. Para eso, se abre una tienda de discos. Por eso, se necesitan.”
FAR OUT MAGAZINE // February 22, 2024
”Hinged on the diverse talent that is Seth Applebaum, Ghost Funk Orchestra has steadily climbed in global popularity and sonic grandeur over the past decade. The project’s vision is hard to pin to any one pigeonhole, but they refer to their nuanced style as psychedelic soul. With flecks of jazz, funk, soul, and rock, this intensely gifted troupe presents its fifth full-length studio album, A Trip To The Moon.”
FEEDBACK // August 30, 2019
"Ghost Funk Orchestra (GFO) er som en kreativ bartender med god smak. Her blandes utrolig mye forskjellig musikk i én og samme cocktail – som er passe søt, passe syrlig, passe frisk, og lett berusende [...] Funk, jazz og psykedelisk rock er musikkens tre grunnpilarer, men utforskertrangen er stor, og resultatet er fargerikt. Her veksler musikken fra varmt til kaldt, og tilbake igjen, så raskt at man ikke rekker å miste oppmerksomheten."
FEEDBACK // December 13, 2019
”Undertegnede er ingen lydnerd, men lydbildet på denne skiva er det mest smakfulle og lekre jeg har hørt på lenge, og ordet «orkester» er virkelig på sin plass. På toppen av alt får vi servert lekre og harmonier fra en knalltøff kvinnelig vokaltrio. «A Song For Paul» er det stiligste soundtracket til et urbant gangsterdrama jeg noensinne har hørt. Noen må bare lage filmen!”
FLEA MARKET FUNK // October 5, 2018
”’Walk Like A Motherfucker’ is a blast of psychedelic soul, a cinematic, fuzzy trip from some grind house movie that Tarantino ripped some scenes from. Rising horn sections come forward to meet funky guitars and hefty drums, echo, and plenty of other fuzzed out treats throughout this trip. We’ve been noticing a trend over the past couple of years, and soundtrack/cinema sounds are getting taken more seriously than they have by before and present musicians who respect the foundations are carrying that torch.”
FLEA MARKET FUNK // August 18, 2020
”The pandemic has been a hotbed of creativity and it’s no surprise that Ghost Funk have gotten a slew of tracks together for a full length to come out on the ever satisfying Colemine Records label. The latest teaser […] is a beautiful piece of cinematic soul that blows along like the breeze off of the ocean. This slow burner sees layers and layers of sound, sultry vocals, and bandleader Seth Applebaum really taking this project to another level.”
FLEA MARKET FUNK // November 10, 2020
”These dusty grooves here in 2020 come from the reality of our surroundings It’s a psychedelic soul party and you’re the star with Ghost Funk Orchestra as the soundtrack to this wild ride. And speaking of wild rides, the vocals on this track are just plain nuts […] This is serious musical business and for sure a band to watch out for if you like these arrangements and that Heavy Axe type production.”
FLEA MARKET FUNK // March 3, 2022
”While we are far from a pandemic being over, it seems that some restrictions have been lifted and the stars aligned to catch one of the hottest tickets around as they warmed up for a cross country tour. We’re talking Ghost Funk Orchestra and The Jack Moves live and up-close at the legendary venue The Colony in Woodstock, NY.”
FLOOD MAGAZINE // October 14, 2020
”Watch Ghost Funk Orchestra Get Theatrical in ‘Queen Bee’ Video”
FULL TIME AESTHETIC // September 2, 2022
”The former Mad Doctors guitarist/singer never completely abandons his 60s garage/psych influence when writing, composing, and performing over a dozen different complex musical components, blending it all with the big band orchestras of parallel era […] And if the occasionally frantic oft lazy stride of ‘Scatter’ is any indicator of what’s to come, we are all in for a crisp and hazy ride through space and time.”
FULL TIME AESTHETIC // September 30, 2022
”Full on funk bass-lines and robust but soulful vocals again carry this track through from start to finish. Dotted with walls of horns, this track has a slightly crisper feel than its predecessor ‘Scatter.’ Masterminded by Seth Applebaum, ‘Why?’ has given the perfect space in the song’s mix to pan and sprinkle bits of percussion and keys in all those little cracks and crevices. Crank the track through your best set of headphones for some top shelf ASMR dreams.”
FUNKY ASTRONAUT // August 19. 2020
”Bend je pauzu u živim nastupima u prethodnih nekoliko mjeseci iskoristio krajnje kreativno i produktivno, pa za jesen najavljuju novi studijski album koji će promovisati odličnim ‘cinematic’ singlom ‘Fuzzy Logic.’ Kao što se moglo i očekivati, Seth Applebaum je, ne mareći za žanrovske granice, kreirao kompoziciju koju bih na jednostavan način opisao kao izgubljeni Tarantinov ‘soundtrack,’ dok bi složenija varijanta opisa bila kombinacija dream-popa i psihodeličnog soula uz malo džeza pride u drugoj polovini pjesme, samo onako, ‘for good measure.’”
GLIDE MAGAZINE // August 30, 2022
”The band has shared the well-dressed sound of its new single ‘Scatter,’ which encompasses polished orchestral elements and spot-on retro soul vocals.”
GLIDE MAGAZINE // October 19, 2022
”’Why?,’ the latest cosmic funk release from Ghost Funk Orchestra is a thick, swampy groove that’s captivating in its simplicity. If the opening notes don’t pull you in all the way, Christine Chanel’s enchanting vocals emerge to finish the job, bringing depth to the simple melodic phrasing with sophistication and style.”
GLIDE MAGAZINE // October 28, 2022
”A New Kind Of Love on Colemine Records is the type of throwback album that retro soul fans will devour with its easy-flowing warmth, charm, and spirit.”
GLIDE MAGAZINE // January 12, 2024
”’To the Moon!’ is a cinematic masterpiece with dramatic horns and haunting keys to give the whole arrangement an ominous yet warm feeling.”
GLIDE MAGAZINE // February 20, 2024
"A memorable journey, rife with drama, dizzying sonics, and inventive musicianship."
GRAMMY AWARDS // November 25, 2022
”Funk and disco-centered '70s revival is definitely having a moment, with acts like Ghost Funk Orchestra and Parcels, while its sparkly sprinklings can be heard in pop from Dua Lipa, Doja Cat, and, in full ‘Soul Train’ character, Silk Sonic.”
IN SEARCH OF MEDIA // September 5, 2019
”Ghost Funk Orchestra’s aura is unlike anything I have heard this year. Woozy, psychedelic, raw soul music that brings out the best in them. Their new album is titled A Song For Paul, a cohesive, futuristic body of work that meanders between tribal, psychedelic rhythms and smooth, soulful melodies.”
JAMBASE // July 2, 2024
”They treated the growing audience to an energetic set of modern funk music that ran the gamut from electrifying psychedelic rock to dub, supplemented by tasteful guitar work and dancing, both synchronized and freestyle, by the singers. The set was tight, showcasing the band’s dedication to their craft and somebody’s penchant for arranging.”
JAZZIZ MAGAZINE // August 5, 2019
”The band forges new territory with a style full of mystery, fuzz and reverb and a sound that draws on a wide variety of styles, from salsa to surf rock to afrobeat to soul and beyond. The video for ‘Seven Eight,’ partly assembled from found footage, was directed and edited by Applebaum and mirrors the ensemble’s mix of vintage and modernity.”
JOY OF VIOLENT MOVEMENT // July 18, 2019
”A Song For Paul‘s latest single ‘Seven Eight’ is an angular and awkwardly lurching song that’s centered around an unusual time signature (7/8 time), a looping Tropicalia-like guitar line, ethereal vocals, an explosive and expressive horn arrangement, which gives the song a quirky yet cinematic air.”
JOY OF VIOLENT MOVEMENT // October 2, 2020
”Featuring a looping, bluesy guitar line, a soaring string arrangement, the song is centered around an unusual song structure that finds the band defy maneuvering three wildly different time signatures to convey someone digging themselves out of a self-flagellating pit and finding their swagger”
JOY OF VIOLENT MOVEMENT // September 1, 2022
”A New Kind of Love‘s first single ‘Scatter’ is a cinematic affair that pairs Romi Hanoch’s sultry and ethereal delivery with an expansive, lush and downright trippy arrangement that’s one-part film-noir-like spy movie, one-part classic rom-com, one-part Blaxploitation — with a wild late-period John Coltrane-like saxophone freak out of a solo.”
JOY OF VIOLENT MOVEMENT // November 8, 2022
”Sonically, the album’s material draws from mid-20th Century exotica, 60s and 70s orchestral pop, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings and Antibalas among others, as well as Applebaum’s experiences as a young filmmaker. Sonically speaking, the end result is an album that encompasses a loving reverence for the past without attempting to soullessly recreate it.”
JOY OF VIOLENT MOVEMENT // January 11, 2024
”A swaggering horn line and funk jazz guitar lines burst into the scene, creating the sense that the listener might be listening to the soundtrack to one of the greatest stories ever told, the creation and the eventual exploration of the cosmos by humankind or an episode of Star Trek.”
JOY OF VIOLENT MOVEMENT // February 2, 2024
”[Again] turns into a Broadway-meets-psych jazz freakout with an explosive horn line, an expressive sax solo paired with one of the more soulful, powerhouse performances I’ve heard from Hanoch.”
KUTX // September 3, 2019
”NYC psych-soul-rockers Ghost Funk Orchestra certainly measure up with their stage-filling energy and blend of Latin, surf, stoner rock, and afrobeat into their spectral aura [...] 'A Song For Paul' just came out last month, and to put it lightly…it’s all over the place…in the best way possible."
KUTX // November 17, 2020
“Last Friday GFO conjured up their sophomore full-length, ‘An Ode To Escapism,’ with an astonishing seventeen tracks that incorporate a bit more jazz and fuzz than their 2019 debut ‘A Song For Paul,’ while still leaning heavily into salsa, psych, soul, and of course, funk. The arrangements are more complex, the drums bang harder, and the experience (pauses and all) is unparalleled.”
KUTX // January 9, 2024
”The record’s lead single and title track of sorts, ‘To The Moon!’ almost puts Tower of Power to shame with stereo-spanning, brilliantly-mixed brass that orbits Applebaum’s mission controlling, garage-style guitar. In other words, it doesn’t sound quite like Ghost Funk Orchestra’s completely ditched their dusty sheets for spiffy new spacesuits – and we love to hear it.”
LES OREILLES CURIEUSES // September 2, 2019
"Seth Applebaum de son côté réussit à nous offrir une bande-son percutante et fascinante où le psychédélique côtoie l’organique."
MUSIKKNYHETER // January 8, 2021
”Både de instrumentale partiene og vokallåtene flyter over i hverandre med en dynamikk og diverse uttrykk som på en underlig måte klarer å beskrive, og synliggjøre, ulike følelser. Glad, trist, oppspilt, lei, lykkelig, deppa, forelska, sorgfull, det er så mange elementer her som beveger lytteren gjennom hele albumet. Det er ikke uten grunn at du blir hekta og umiddelbart ønsker å spille det om igjen.”
MONKEY BOXING // April 13, 2021
“The single itself is a light and ethereal slice of cinematic psych-soul.”
MONKEY BOXING // August 31, 2022
”A vocal cut, this one offers by turns smokey and shimmery soul-jazz theatrics that, say, Doris (of ‘Beatmaker’ fame) might have been pleased with back in the day, albeit with a heavy psych bridge in the second half.”
MUZISCENE MAGAZINE // November 13, 2020
”An Ode To Escapism laat zich beluisteren als een soundtrack bij een film. Een gemiddelde Bondfilm dan, uit de jaren zestig. Gedurende 17 tracks worden we van sfeer naar sfeer geleid, soms toegesproken, dan weer zoet toegezongen. Muziek om in het donker naar te luisteren, suggereert de band.”
NEW NOISE MAGAZINE // November 4, 2022
”They recently released their third album, A New Kind of Love, Karma Chief/Colemine Records, and it’s a must listen for anyone who enjoys a nice, funky bass. The vocals are somewhat sparse and secondary to the music on this album, although what vocals there are are outstanding.”
NEW SOUNDS // February 5, 2024
”As Hanoch grows increasingly insistent that she’s “never gonna fall in love again,” the imperturbable sounds of the NASA transmissions suggest a bigger universe out there, no matter how big your own problems seem.”
NEW YORK MUSIC DAILY // December 27, 2017
”Over the past couple of years, multi-instrumentalist Seth Applebaum has been building a catchy, slinky, darkly cinematic catalog of organic dance music, mostly by himself […] hypnotic, ominous grooves never go out of style.”
NEW YORK MUSIC DAILY // August 24, 2019
”This past evening they played the album release show to a huge crowd spread across the lawn at Bryant Park. Applebaum turns out to be a beast of a lead guitarist, switching from evilly feathery tremolo-picking, to enigmatically sunbaked, scorchingly resonant lines, incisive funk and even some icily revertoned, surf-tinged riffs. The horn section – trumpet, trombone and baritone sax, the latter of which was most prominent in the mix – were as tight as the harmonies of the three women fronting the band with an unselfconscious, down-to-earth passion and intensity.”
NEW YORK MUSIC DAILY // November 8, 2022
”Their latest album A New Kind Of Love – streaming at Bandcamp – is their most psychedelic and eclectic yet. The instrumentation and production is totally classic 60s: reverb on the guitar and drums, snappy trebly bass, plus layers of organ or vintage electric piano and horns in places […] So far 2022 has been a relatively slow year for psychedelia in general, but this is one of the most enjoyably immersive records of the year.”
NORTHERN TRANSMISSIONS // January 12, 2024
”Ghost Funk Orchestra makes psych-inspired, jazz-infused, surf-rock influenced music that feels impossible to pin down (because it is) […] ‘To the Moon’ is a sultry space-age slow jam with pangs of bright trumpets and soaring organ lines that make you feel like you’re in a 1940’s hard boiled detective movie.”
NPR // October 28, 2022
”I promise anyone who’s listening… have a dinner party and towards the later end of the party, put this record on. Everyone’s going to be asking you what it is. It’ll just have the perfect vibe.”
OBSERVER // September 30, 2016
”Applebaum has his own thing going on. That’s called Ghost Funk Orchestra, a mostly solo affair that allows him to explore his long-gestating love of Latin music, particularly salsa and jazz. Ghost Funk’s new EP, Night Walker, is a stunning achievement not only because it was recorded by one dude at his ever-evolving Ghostload Sound with a minimal amount of help (his brother plays bass and a variety friends fill out vocal duties, violin and trumpet parts) , but because it sounds so fully realized and mature […] Which is to say, this isn’t just the vanity project of some hipster kid appropriating another culture’s genres with minimal respect for the form. Everything about Night Walker, from Applebaum’s drum sounds to the production, pays respect to the sounds he loves while infusing a bit of his own sonic sensibilities into the mix for good measure.”
OUTSIDE LEFT // February 1, 2024
”If you pass on Ghost Funk Orchestra because you think you've heard it already, I don't think so. The leftcentric leftover 60s sounds of Ghost Funk Orchestra are going To The Moon! And they do seem to have provided the only recording this week incorporating its own much-deserved and necessary '!' in the title. That surely has to mean something to the discerning music mind. The music from start to finish is just incredible too. How did they do it?”
POP MATTERS // Oct 3, 2019
”At its heart, A Song for Paul is about mourning and celebrating our lost loved ones […] But celebration emerges as just as vital on A Song for Paul as mourning. It doesn't seem coincidental that the most swinging piece on the album is the title track, a groovy number with a distinct bossa nova feel and cooing wordless vocals that would sound great as you sip a tall cool drink on a beach somewhere. If A Song for Paul is specifically meant to capture the spirit of Paul Anish, then Mr. Anish was a groovy kind of guy.”
POST-TRASH // May 17, 2017
”Seth's first record as Ghost Funk Orchestra was a stunningly refreshing take on the genre. Combining jazz and salsa with darker elements, last year's Night Walker EP felt like a characteristically metropolitan record. Follow this up with an equally dense second record before the end of the year and you’ll have ears to the ground […] Musically, Ghost Funk Orchestra remain committed to that New York City flavor of jazz infused salsa - but with a modern flare.”
POST-TRASH // July 10, 2019
”Ever since I heard ‘Seven Eight’ I’ve been utterly obsessed. The song’s swinging rhythms and Romi Hanoch’s drifting vocals sweep over the orchestral structures that bounce with retro bliss and modern skronk. It’s as infectious a song as you can hope to hear this summer, and their album has catapulted to one of our most anticipated.”
POST-TRASH // August 26, 2019
”Those ideas belong to the maestro of it all, Seth Applebaum, the brains behind the beauty and bliss that is their new record, a freewheeling and unflinching retro masterpiece that feels lost in time. From the shimmering soul melodies and utterly dazzling drums to the thick bass grooves and spirited horns, everything falls into place in a psych odyssey of traditional sounds delivered in non-traditional fashion. A Song For Paul is the vivid dream and cinematic vision we never want to wake from, unfolding in serene glory from start to finish.”
POST-TRASH // December 12, 2019
”With a quick immersion into their home-grown soul via the rhythm section and horns, Ghost Funk Orchestra make great use of their string section as the dip into psychedelic swirls before shifting firmly into R&B territory. It’s immaculately composed and performed, with each sweeping section building upon the next.”
POST-TRASH // February 19, 2020
“GFO’s latest release, A Song For Paul, lands somewhere between Bitches Brew, Weather Report and Can, a cacophony thusly slathered in New York’s grime and impatience [...] Whether you’re at home, lighting a joint and laying back, or blasting these songs in your headphones to block out the noise of your commute, A Song For Paul is an endearing journey into what the future holds for big band, jazz, and funk.”
QRO MAGAZINE // November 2, 2023
”Complete with a punctuating horn section and retro guitar licks, the band added a welcomed funky dimension to the festival lineup. The venue was at near capacity as the band approached midnight […] late in the performance they stopped and invited kindred spirit and soul singer Kam Franklin from the Houston-based band The Suffers to the stage.”
RECORD CRATES UNITED // June 7, 2017
”The production on this album is so thick and atmospheric; every track feels absolutely alive with sound. This is the kind of music where there is so much going on in every song; you tend to notice something new every time you play it. In my mind, all music should be like this.”
RECORD CRATES UNITED // November 16, 2020
“With ‘An Ode To Escapism,’ Ghost Funk Orchestra have proved themselves to be, once again, one of the most creative bands operating within the world of funk and jazz right now. Do not miss out on this record. You’ll need it to help get through the rest of this year.”
RECORD CRATES UNITED // November 7, 2022
”GFO was always great at committing to a particular sonic atmosphere or mood, but this ability is absolutely mastered here. Every instrument and vocal seems to be drenched in the laid back cool and sexy vibe that permeates throughout the entire LP. Strong, imaginative and deliciously lush, A New Kind of Love closes out one of the most superb three-record runs we’ve seen in recent years. Here’s hoping band leader Seth Applebaum and the rest of the group will be adding on to this run again very soon.”
RIVER BOISE // March 24, 2022
”Their jazz, funk, horn, harmonies, and dance synchronicity made for a really exciting in-store performance! It’s obvious that band leader Seth Applebaum has created a treasure here.”
ROCK & ROLL GLOBE // March 16, 2020
”The remix is very good, but I’m mostly fascinated by how quickly he snapped into gear here— no hesitation, no trepidation, just a kid who does what he can because he can’t imagine himself doing anything else […] Applebaum doesn’t have his band locked in his basement with him, hence the impulse to remix, which got me thinking about electronic music’s power to generate remote intimacy.”
ROLLING STONE // May 21, 2020
”The Truth to Power tracklist will also feature [Leon] Bridges’ previously released collaboration with Keite Young, ‘Like a Ship,’ which is a rework of the 1971 song by Pastor T.L. Barrett. Other contributors include Elliott Skinner, Holy Hive, Bastards of Soul, Ghost Funk Orchestra, Sarah Jaffe and Sam Lao, and Badbadnotgood, who remixed the Black Pumas’ ‘Black Moon Rising.’”
SAKURA TAPS MUSIC // October 21, 2020
“前述しましたが、一見クセのあるサイケデリックファンクで「泥臭さ」を感じて途中でおなか一杯になったりしそうですが、随所に現代的なジャズ、プログレッシブ、ロックの要素をセンス良くブレンドさせているので過食気味にならないというのか、のどを通る作品になっていますね。”
SAKURA TAPS MUSIC // October 31, 2022
”70年代ヴィンテージを感じるファズファンク、Ghost Funk Orchestra（ゴーストファンク・オーケストラ）でした。前述しましたが、一見クセのあるサイケデリックファンクで「泥臭さ」を感じて途中でおなか一杯になったりしそうですが、随所に現代的なジャズ、プログレッシブ、ロックの要素をセンス良くブレンドさせているので過食気味にならないというのか、のどを通る作品になっていますね。KhruangbinやSaultが最近話題になって「ハネて」いますが、このグループもその可能性が充分にあるといえます。”
SCRATCHED VINYL // November 15, 2022
”Applebaum continues to find his voice as songwriter/arranger, and he has found great musicians to surround himself with and bring his ideas to life. This album is soulful, funky, and gritty, in all the best ways.”
SORS-TU? // July 8, 2023
”La formation est originaire de Brooklyn et a été créée par le guitariste et compositeur Seth Applebaum. Ensemble, elle livre une musique qui navigue entre la soul, le funk, la musique de film, le surf rock avec un petit goût de psychédélique. Et avec rien de moins que neuf excellents musiciens, la scène est bien remplie : deux chanteuses, deux guitaristes, un bassiste, un batteur et une section de cuivre comprenant un trompettiste, un trombone et un saxophone baryton. Les deux chanteuses sont particulièrement dynamiques et interagissent en mêlant leur belle voix chaude et soul avec des chorégraphies livrées avec un enthousiasme communicatif. Il y a aussi le saxophone baryton qui nous interprète quelques solos endiablés faisant assurément lever le party.”
SOUL BAG // December 26, 2019
“Dans ces lieux nimbés d’un mystérieux et perpétuel brouillard, le funk s’enivre de rock et laisse le jazz se lover autour de sa rythmique. Fait divaguer son groove dans des vapeurs hallucinogènes, au son des guitares et des claviers acides que dispersent la chaleur des cuivres.”
SPECTRUM CULTURE // December 11. 2020
"It’s refreshing to know there are still albums being made that can cut through the bullshit and reach listeners in a way albums were once designed to. Such is the case with Ghost Funk Orchestra’s 'An Ode To Escapism,' the quintessential headphone listen and ideal introspective companion in this shitshow of a year."
STONY BROOK PRESS // April 7, 2019
”What was once the solo passion project of Queens-based multi-instrumentalist Seth Applebaum has morphed into something beautifully textured, multifaceted and endlessly soothing.”
SWEET STATIC // September 16, 2019
”Where earlier releases showed a groovy curiosity working in a very specific vein, on their debut LP the band fulfills its potential. Here, the band gets jazzier and more avant-garde, while still keeping their signature creepy-cool vibe. While I’ve been a fan for a while, I honestly didn’t know they had it in them. This is a major leap from a group that is now in full control. They are equally adept at applying their influences or inventing their own fascinating sounds.”
THE BIG TAKEOVER // February 19, 2024
“Applebaum paints a colorful aural mural on his latest album A Trip to the Moon. Along the way he amalgamates space pop, funk, surf music, orchestral film scores, exotica, and spiritual jazz into a brilliantly arranged farrago of memorable melodies and strange sounds on cool cuts like ‘A Solar Wind,’ ‘Space Walk,’ and ‘A Rare View.’”
THE DELI // March 12, 2019
“[Ghost Funk Orchestra] utilizes every instrument at their disposal to craft a type of “heavy soul” or “dark funk” sound that fits their namesake. If you are up for something new, we recommend checking them out.”
THE DELI // July 12, 2019
”Their latest single ‘Skin I'm In’ is an exercise of restrained psychedelia at times reminiscent of unforgettable British band Broadcast. Featuring effected vocals that span layers of groovy orchestral textures, the single seamlessly blends elements from genres as disparate as funk, noise rock and Eastern music. This is one of the coolest track we stumbled upon this year.”
THE DELI // April 5, 2021
“Based on the output of Ghost Funk Orchestra alone, Seth is a one-man ‘library music’ machine.”
THE FIRE NOTE // December 11, 2019
”Without a doubt, New York’s Ghost Funk Orchestra released one of the best soul records of the year in ‘A Song For Paul.’”
THE FIRE NOTE // November 30, 2020
"Following a record as good as 'A Song For Paul' would be a tall order for any band, but GFO not only match that album’s high standard, they might push the bar even higher. 'An Ode To Escapism' takes all of the previous album’s strengths and builds on them, creating a listening experience that’s simultaneously more diverse and more cohesive, all while retaining their signature sound."
THE FIRE NOTE // August 24, 2022
”It shows elements of their sound they’d later develop to even better effect, along with some detours and musical “what if” moments that suggest alternate directions the project could have taken. While some archival releases are only worth listening to as historical curiosities or glimpses into the creative process, Night Walker / Death Waltz hits those marks while working as an album on its own terms.”
THE FIRE NOTE // November 4, 2022
”Suffice to say that A New Kind of Love is another worthy entry in the GFO discography. It retains the band’s unique sonic fingerprint while adding in some new elements to keep that signature sound from getting stale. Seth Applebaum and his bandmates make it sound effortless, but you can always tell the immense amount of work that goes into a Ghost Funk Orchestra LP, and A New Kind of Love is no exception.”
THE FIRE NOTE // February 22, 2024
”An immersive and playful song-cycle inspired by moon missions past and present, fact and fiction, the album adds new elements to their already diverse sound while retaining the funky, jazzy psych-soul sound that makes them one of Karma Chief’s most exciting acts.”
THE HIGH NOTE // November 1, 2022
”Throughout the 12 tracks of ‘A New Kind Of Love,’ Ghost Funk Orchestra displays the many talents of the 10-piece band. Although the studio can’t contain the energy that the group creates live, its latest album captures the greatness of its composition and vocal tones.”
THE VINYL DISTRICT // September 12, 2019
”[…] it’s so much more than just another large-scaled soulful-funky thing. While the record exudes some definite soundtrack vibes, this is not Applebaum’s fallback position. It was during “Skin I’m In” (roughly three-quarters into the record) that it struck me that A Song for Paul connects Daptone with Broadcast (the UK band), and that’s downright swell.”
THRILLIST // April 1, 2022
”Some of the acts we were introduced to and are excited to follow include Toronto power pop group Ducks Ltd., Memphis-based indie four-piece Blvck Hippie, Maya Bon's folky singer-songwriter project Babehoven, and Ghost Funk Orchestra, which is a NYC-based band that somehow meshes '60s girl group vocals with psychedelic soul and is an absolute blast.”
TREBLE // August 26, 2019
”Much like Portishead shifted a tribal-to-global spotlight on Issac Hayes funk vamps for mass consumption as a sample source while Stereolab ran their post-rock lounge biz directly into ambient orchestration, Applebaum snatches inspiration from iconic arrangers. Scoring grand and sweeping compositions that have a whiff of Lalo Schifrin here, a dab of Quincy Jones over there and most definitely a chunk of the futuristic grandeur of David Axelrod.”
TREBLE // November 24, 2020
“The group’s follow-up, ‘An Ode to Escapism,’ only delves deeper into the ‘Orchestra’ part of the group’s name, each soulful track that much more cinematic, each funk pulse a foundation for a widescreen delivery of strings and horns that aims for something grander than groove itself.”
TREBLE // September 27, 2022
”Their strut is wallpapered with midcentury cool, Brubeck-ian time signatures, John Barry suspense and David Axelrod cinematics. ‘A Song for Paul’ isn’t traditional funk revisionism but something more lush and psychedelic, a product of omnivorous musicians who likely have a lot of crossover in their record collections as the members of Stereolab. But with a little more Stax between the Neu! and Esquivel.”
UNDERRATED // October 8, 2020
«Queen Bee»— стильная композиция, форма и эстетика которой перекликается с исполнителями рубежа 60-х и 70-х вроде Лаби Сиффре или Rotary Connection. Она максимально задействует инструментальный потенциал, соединяя блюзовую гитару с тщательной аранжировкой струнных. Переменная ритмика и тактовый размер, в свою очередь, вызывают ещё больше ассоциаций с прог-роком.»
UPROXX // April 12, 2022
”I went to El Korah time and time again and I came to love the quirks of its humble operators as much as the acts I saw on stage, like London saxophonist Nubya Garcia, New York’s 10-piece soul explosion Ghost Funk Orchestra, and yes, Built To Spill again at the tail end of the festival on Sunday night.”
VINYL WRITERS // September 17, 2020
”Let’s be clear, Ghost Funk Orchestra isn’t just playing disposable retro music. The band is innovative and skilled at taking their influences and stretching out to more challenging areas of music. Each individual track breaks down and reshapes with longer instrumental passages that are often groovy and innovative. Incorporating elements of jazz, drone and psychedelia that takes you on an alternative journey through the highly visual spectrum of the sound.”
WBGO // November 3, 2022
”Applebaum’s musical identity is apparent in A New Kind of Love, which features tracks that hark to ‘60s vocal groups (“‘our Man’s No Good’); small-group Latin jazz (‘A Song for Pearl’); and all-out jams reminiscent of Snarky Puppy sessions (‘Rooted’).”
WE WRITE ABOUT MUSIC // November 6, 2023
”With so many talented musicians sharing one stage, the crowd couldn’t get enough of the funky rhythms this band was putting down throughout their set. If you want to get down all night long, this is a band to keep on your radar!”
WIRE MAGAZINE // January 2021
”The music’s a cosmopolitan, swinging affair with CTI-informed fusion chops, lounge-y breeziness plus tinges of Rotary Connection’s flowery psychedelic soul and David Axelrod’s high-minded orchestral funk.”