Handsome Ghost – Some Still Morning
Release Date: September 18, 2020 via Photo Finish Records
I would say that “Some Still Morning” is one of the albums I’ve been anticipating most in 2020. When I spoke with Tim and Eddie in April of this year, I had only heard a few tracks from the record. It was that taste that had me wanting to hear more.
The wait was more than worth it. Now is the time I get to write about what I heard. Some Still Morning is an exceptional eleven track opus that accomplishes something that most artists wish for. Growth, maturity and perfection to their craft while taking a deep breath in the process. The result is a more stripped down version of themselves but they still manage to expand their sound. Not the easiest thing to do but in my opinion they do it and do so, beautifully.
After experiencing the album a few times it occurred to me that the record just wouldn’t be the same if ‘Funeral’ wasn’t the opening track. The title and opening line – One more time, to pay my respects – almost suggests that it be the last thing you hear metaphorically and literally but what it actually does is set up the rest of the album with an introspective look into the lyrical journey that Handsome Ghost is about to take you on.
To follow ‘Funeral’ up with ‘Massachusetts’ is almost not even fair. Not fair to the emotional side to our brains or frankly other albums that have come out recently vying for our undivided attention. The somberness to start this adventure is high for sure but the sonic values almost gives me that serotonin boost to counteract whatever low feelings I gained from the songs’ feel.
By the time I get to ‘Fifteen Countries’ and ‘Vampires’ I am reminded of another artists work I obsessed on in the past. Glen Hansard. Hansard has a great way of telling a story not only with his voice but with the voice of his guitar. The guys in Handsome Ghost do this very thing with their brand of musical songwriting. They mix acoustic and electric guitars with sounds that almost seem like a living entity. It’s all just so ethereal sounding.
The production aspect of this album is unbelievably high and this is considering I believe it to be a more stripped down sound than previous releases from the band. Again, not the easiest thing to do and maybe that’s one of the reasons I cannot stay away from the songs.
It’s almost amazing that I haven’t even mention the harmonic aspect of the record. Anyone that takes the time read any of my reviews knows that I’m a huge sucker for a great harmony vocal. This album has them but they are so subtle that you almost miss them. Until you don’t. Then it’s on. I now hear every little breath and low octave harmony on the album and I find myself trying to match them as I hum the tunes.
One of my absolute favorite songs on the album is the outro track – “Sunday Best”. The pace of the guitar is almost like a heart racing but the vocal provides a soothing calmness. A calming double tracked voice that sits on top of a gentle piano and low bass that lurks beneath the song. This is one of those songs that will find a place on my playlist and will undoubtingly be one of my night driving songs. Now that I mention it, it seems like a great song to start the new day with while you are on the road and the sun starts to break the horizon.
Not trying to be poetic. This is just the feeling that these songs give me.
I don’t pretend to know or even understand what songwriters are actually writing about but like most people I sort of come up with my own conclusions. What I learned from listening was an album filled with introspective episodes and plenty of seemingly personal stories of love, loss, regret and perseverance.
It gets so many things right that I’m almost certain I’ll be talking about it when I announce my album of the year contenders later this year. It’s that good.
I would carve out 45 minutes or so in your schedule to give this a listen as I feel it’s best to give it a full spin all the way through. Especially on your first listen.
Think I’ll go put on my headphones and get lost in it once again.
-Tommy Marz
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