Cursory listens to Nine Inch Nails’ new album – the 36 track Ghosts I-IV – could reveal it to be a collection of half-finished ideas, or worse, deliberate off-cuts sold at $5 to prove that people will buy anything. Neither of these opinions would be correct. Ghosts I-IV is probably one of the most interesting and successful compositions released since Aphex Twin’s Select Ambient Works, Vol. 2 and easily Trent Reznor’s best work.

Because it lacks vocals and obvious melodies and rhythms it is firmly rooted as an ambient soundtrack, but unlike most such music, it cannot be experienced this way. Ghosts I-IV demands and rewards listening. The tracks have no titles except for their number (even SAW2 had photographic textures) so it’s up to the listener to attach meaning to each track and link them together.

14 Ghosts II begins with distorted electronic beats and buzzy guitar pads before sickeningly warped slide guitars pick up the tune, jamming around each other. That’s about as pretty as it gets – the introduction of skewed electric guitars knocks the track sideways.

Nine Inch Nails – Ghosts