By: Aaron Pickford
Album Type:
Full Length
Date Released:
13/082012
Label:
My Proud Mountain/
Neurot
Recordings
The songs are wonderfully spacious and Scott
Kelly appears to have mastered the art of expression through emotional
purging. A truly magnificent record that penetrates your senses to the
very core. Wonderfully crafted and just a pleasure to listen too.
‘The Forgiven
Ghost In Me’ CD//LP tracklisting:
1. A Spirit Redeemed to the Sun (03:01)
2. The Forgiven Ghost in Me (04:55)
3. In the Waking Hours (04:28)
4. Within It Blood (06:51)
5. We Let the Hell Come (06:12)
6. The Sun Is Dreaming in the Soul (03:52)
7. The Field That Surrounds Me (06:59)
8. We Burn Through The Night (05:06)
Scott Kelly and The Road Home is:
Scott
Kelly | Acoustic guitars, all vocals
Greg Dale | guitar
Noah Landis | Baritone guitar & Keyboards
Greg Dale | guitar
Noah Landis | Baritone guitar & Keyboards
The Review
Well, what more is left to be said about an artist,
who is 30 years into a musical career? In truth Scott Kelly has been a leading
light and flag bearer in his musical endeavours, from the early
recordings of Neurosis,
with the roots of the band firmly influenced by hardcore, Scott Kelly
and his cohorts have firmly transcended the boundaries of heavy
music, arguably starting on that journey with the release
of ‘Souls at Zero’. During the 20 yrs or so since
then, Messrs Kelly, Von Till et al, have released some of the most
pioneering and groundbreaking records committed to wax.
Few can doubt, or would deny his influence on the
world of heavy music, however at the same time, as with many artists, Scott Kelly has
such an outpouring of influences that there is often a need
to commit such writings outside the boundaries of their main band.
‘The
Forgiven Ghost in Me’ is
Scott
Kelly's third collection of acoustic based songs and what we get is
8 tracks of charming, heartfelt and emotionally charged songs at their most raw
and pure. A collection of cryptic writings in one sense, given that,
we can only surmise or interpret what these songs truly represent.
There is something to be said about the nakedness or vulnerability of these
8 acoustic tracks, in so much as there is a virtuous quality to
them and the embodiment of emotional expression. It is an album characterised
by raw beauty, unpolished and powerfully expressive, without concealment,
disguise, or embellishment.
‘A Spirit Redeemed to the Sun’ is a great start to the record, starting as it would appear to be Mr.
Kelly drawing breathe, before he prepares to commit himself on this
musical journey. It is sparse; in so much as it is mainly his
southern tinged Marlboro soaked vocals and his acoustic guitar.
Reminding me of a soundtrack to those old Clint
Eastwood western movies, perhaps the man with no name musing about
his next bounty, sounding road weary and bullet ridden. Each of the subsequent tracks is itself its
own journey. ‘The Forgiven Ghost in Me’ seems
to be very spiritual and whilst that might sound obvious given
the name of the track, it is nonetheless a beautiful mournful and
emotional track. The overarching flavour of the
song being a repeated arpeggio from the acoustic guitar and a
great chorus which is greatly supported by a dual vocal delivery.
In order to truly feel the quality and depth of these
songs, you have to be prepared to immerse and commit yourself to the
album. It may sound contrived, however I felt
myself closing my eyes to gain a glimpse and insight into
the journey that Scott and The Road Home take us. In fact
when you truly shut yourself off to the world
and you devote yourself to the music, this is when you
are truly rewarded. I felt that there was an outpouring of
emotion coming from me and felt that the record was indeed taking me back or
reflecting upon my own journeys I have taken and paths I have chosen,
whether they be right or wrong.
Whether it is the intention of Scott Kelly,
the record feels soaked in melancholy and that is not just from the gravelled
throated vocals, but from the acoustic guitar too. Seemingly used as
medicine or therapy exorcising the man of his pains or being used as
catharsis. In turn creating something truly beautiful, poignant and
memorable. The songs are wonderfully spacious and Scott Kelly appears to have
mastered the art of expression through emotional purging. A truly
magnificent record that penetrates your senses to the very core.
Wonderfully crafted and just a pleasure to listen too.
