IN STORMY NIGHTS

Ghost was quite active in nineties releasing 6 albums, when in 2000-decade only two. In 2000 decade their style changed more electric, don't know was that in connection to their line-up change. This was their last album before their 7 years hiatus and then Masaki Batoh's announcement that they're disbanded. I think this album is their most experimental & also darkest album.

When CD-version started really acoustic and more old Ghost-style piece 'Motherly Bluster', vinyl version goes in the same way as previous 'Hypnotic Underworld'. Starting piece 'Hemicyclic Anthelion' lasts almost half hour and is really experimental! It starts with echoed noise, but just before four minutes changes really acoustic. There are both kind of periods after that, one acoustic period is really melodic and jazzy. Very interesting, contemporary classical piece-style composition that caries it's whole lenght. Next 'Water Door Yellow Gate' is the greatest piece in this album. Tympani plays bolero rhythm whole through it and in the back there is choir that sounds as made in mellotron. Also there is guitar that is somewhere middle of Fripp's & Michael Karoli- style. In next 'Gareki No Toshi' tympani continues beating faster, but this instrumental is little bit too long with no changes.

Second vinyl starter 'Motherly Bluster' is really much old Ghost sounding, beautiful acoustic piece. 'Caledonia' is version of the piece of old experimental band 'Cromagnon'. It reminds a lot of the original, but naturally sounds more modern. Anyway I listened first time the original version and it really didn't sound 1969 at all! Really going to listen this bands only album from that year! But this album ends with acoustic and sad 'Grisaille'. In the end song rises into other level with really great guitar solo with back of some mellotron sounding keyboard.

This album don't rise into level of the greatest nineties Ghost albums, but I think it was really great they went forward into new direction. Really that directions wasn't bad. So sad band didn't continue after this great album, hard to believe their record company Drag City would have pushed them into some other direction what they wanted.