New Music: Isaac Howlett – Ghosts of the Tsunami

Known for his work as lead singer of British electronic outfit Empathy Test, Isaac Howlett continues his solo career with Ghosts of the Tsunami.

Ghosts of the Tsunami is from his new EP, which also features a previous single, Eggshell, and both travel over different sonic terrain to Empathy Test, though the lyrics retain thoughtful and impactful emotional themes.

Teaming up with the iconic Daniel Myer on production brings a pop dimension to Howlett’s solo sound, warm tones occasionally fractured by sharper moments, driven by the bass and percussion, whereas Empathy Test often place greater emphasis on melody and mood as a way to reach the listener.

Ghosts of the Tsunami is pop but also carries the kind of yearning emotional resonances that make Empathy Test and Kite essential listening for me, and Howlett’s solo career looks like it’s heading the same way as those acts.

Says Howlett, “Lyrically, Ghosts of the Tsunami was inspired by the 2017 non-fiction novel of the same name by Richard Lloyd Parry. It’s about the aftermath of the Japanese tsunami and some of the dead not knowing they were dead. The song draws a comparison to the loss of feeling amongst the living.”

2026 will see Isaac Howlett touring solo, with Empathy Test playing a series of live dates in Ireland and the UK this December. For details on those, head to Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.

The new EP features two original tracks, Eggshell and its radio edit, Ghosts of the Tsunami, as well as remixes by genCAB, Clan of Xymox and Suzi Sabotage. The 7” picture disc featuring the two original tracks and artwork/photography by Bernd Schwinn is close to selling out on Bandcamp, as is the CD edition of the EP.