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DVDfever.co.uk – D M Stith: Heavy Ghost CD reviewElly Roberts reviews
Asthmatic Kitty Records
- Released: March 2009
- Rating: 10/10++
- Vote and comment on this album:View Comments
Want Twos equivalent. Almost.
A few years ago, Rufus Wainwright released his magnificent opus Want Two. Not since then have I heard anything to match it Heavy Ghost comes, very, very close to it.
Were told that Jeff Buckley, Sufjan Stevens (label owner) and Antony Heggarty are his comrades / influences. Doubtful. Theyd never match this.Its more like his pianist mum, opera singing sisters and ex-church choir director dad that have provided inspiration.
You only have to listen to one song to confirm that Morning Glory Cloud which is absolutely stunning.Of all the albums reviewed this year, this is the most fascinating.Its all done by one-man-band David Stith from Buffalo USA.
If youre expecting a quick-pop fix, forget it. What you get here is totally beguiling and often spellbinding, though initially, it doesnt come easily. Its time to sit down and listen, with headphones preferably.Heavy Ghost is for real musos who can appreciate the wealth of immaculately crafted songwriting, with its quirky bits.
Things dont start off to well. Isaacs Song is awful. Morbid and heavy piano play, wailing, drums splattering dont bode well at all. There again this is Heavy Ghost After all.Thankfully out of the way, we stumble on the majestic Pity Dance. This is tasty stuff. Impressive backups, melodic guitar wails and rustic vocals kick-start the album. Its as if Rufus Wainwright has given Dave a nudge, a big nudge at that. The piano playing is out of this world unbelievable, honestly.
African beats and rhythms carry the glorious Creekmouth. If Pity Dance was dynamic, then this is an all out percussive monster with all manner of instrumentation dropped in. Sensational at full volume. The ghosts are having some real fun here I can tell you.Such are the profound soundscapes; it could be the soundtrack to heaven, or other worldly experiences. There are moments when it becomes a tad unnerving too, like the (appropriately titled) Spirit Parade revealing its menacing cacophony, that spills over initially, into BMB, though it is saved by those glorious heavenly backups.
It gets better. Thanksgiving Moon is a trip up to the stars, with all manner of instrumentation tinkling in a sort of celestial state.Classical strings open Fire Of Birds. They come back to help out, swirling and disappearing along the way.
Further evidence of Stiths influences (mum, dad, sisters, remember?) are borne out in two successive, magnificently crafted pieces GMS and Braid Of Voices, thatll blow you up to the stars, or wherever ghosts hang out.
The verdict Sensational.
Weblinks:asthmatickitty.com /dmstith.com /myspace.com/dmstith
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Isaacs Song
2. Pity Dance
3. Creekmouth
4. Pigs
5. Spirit Parade
6. BMB
7. Thanksgiving Moon
8. Fire Of Birds
9. Morning Glory Cloud
10. GMS
11. Braid Of Voices
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Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.