THE GHOSTS OF SEARCHLIGHT “Sprawl”

Lost Future, 2021

Music: Post-Rock
Website: http://www.theghostsofsearchlight.com/
Duration: 43:00 (10 tracks)
Country: U.S.A.

Nowadays, bands perceive the music industry differently than how classic acts did. For new and upcoming bands it is all about innovation and versatility whereas classic acts prefer persistence and originality. Things get interesting when a band come out of a long hiatus. It is almost like a marriage of two different cultures, which may seem conflicting but from my experience, this is the time when bands hit their peak. That’s why comeback albums are often better than what the band had put out pre-hiatus. The Ghosts of Searchlight is one of such bands that put of a beast of an album after coming out of a 6-year long hiatus.

I’m pretty bad at categorizing bands, but if there’s is a genre where this band would fit well into, it would be in between Post/Ambient Rock. They try to convey emotions through music since the band lacks a vocalist. However, you do get to hear spoken words/commentary here and there almost like a narration – especially on this album. The album starts with an energetic track “Beneath the Neon”. Haunting at times, the commentary reminds me of Pennywise and the words “Once the door is locked, there is no way out” is for some reason very memorable. It took till “Shutdown” for me to notice that it has been 4 tracks since “Beneath the Neon”. That’s what I like about this band. The music is set in a way that it doesn’t feel like different tracks, but when it all comes together it is one big story.

The intro to “Low Density” was fun and very different from what I heard previously – a statement from the band that we are shifting gears and sound. The mixing is perfect as the drums blend well with the rest of the instrumentation and paves way for a beautiful guitar section towards the end. “Going Places” sounds like a proper surf-rock track that is full of sunshine and joy. But towards the end, there is this little section that puts you back to the gloomy and shady mood with a tinge of spookiness. Really interesting songwriting!

It was the 6-minute epic closure that made me like this album even more. Although your patience will surely be tested here, the track when listened to on one go is mesmerizing. It starts slow but builds up tempo with each passing minute and finally by the 4-minute mark it is a juxtaposition of various sections. Almost as if the character of the story has gained enlightenment. All through the album, it is the guitar work that blew me away. The work fills voids and carries the track forward without breaking the momentum in between.

Overall, “Sprawl” is one of those albums that I will surely come back more often, just to check if I get the same experience I had on first listen. I highly recommend this to those who want to get into Instrumental or Post-Rock.

Tracklist:

1. Beneath the Neon
2. Cauterizing Asphalt
3. Taste of Freedom
4. Shutdown
5. Home
6. Low Density
7. Going Places
8. Ancient Angst
9. Success Loop
10. Life in the Sprawl

Line-up:

Brian Horn – Guitars, Bass, Keys, Mandolin, Harp
Ben Kaplan – Drums, Additional Guitars and Bass