BANDS:

Punk & Ska
80's New Wave/
Post-Punk/
College Bands
90's & Beyond
Virginia, North
Carolina, & DC

Visiting Ghosts: Self-Titled
[self-released]

Welcome to the debut record of a London-based band with grand plans to scare the shit out of you through their music. I'm usually a big fan of listening to music at night with the lights off, but not with this record. When I listen to Leonard Cohen's Songs from a Room while lying in bed trying to sleep for the night, the uncomfortable pause in between songs make me feel like an eternal slumber is imminent. This album creeps me out in the same way, except it's more on the rocking side than anything Cohen ever recorded. The song-writing team of the Visiting Ghosts consists of vocalist Charles Campbell-Jones (an Aussie expatriate) and guitarist Clem White (an ex-Kiwi). The convergence of White's diverse music-writing and playing talents with the eerie lyrics of Charles Campbell-Jones is reminiscent of The Doors in their more productive and focused era. Jim Morrisons swagger is mildly aped on "Bring Your Love to Me," which segues beautifully into "Please Come Inside." You can hear how Lou Reed is also a major influence on this band with songs like "Beats Me" and "Dalleray." The presence of guest vocalist Rachel Kern on "Indigo Solar" and "Beats Me" certainly solidifies a semblance of The Velvet Underground & Nico, even if Kern's docile voice is nowhere near as chilling as Nico's. Nevertheless, this album's doom-ridden harmonies and esoteric lyricism set a promising tone for things to come.

This album can be purchased at CD Baby

Visiting Ghosts Official Website

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