GHOSTS

Ghost was my first Strawbs LP, I bought it when I was 15. And it is still my favorite. Great symphonic folk, combining skillfully acoustic and electric instrumentation into a very own sound. Strawbs had gone a long way and now they were much more than a simply folk rock group. Ghost was the group´s peak, with every track having a different approach and still retaining the Strawbs trademark. It has, of course, their best line up. If their performance in Hero And Heroine was promising, this album fullfilled every expectation one might have about it. Everyone shines here, but John Hawken proves he is the best choice for the keys and leaves nothing to be desired even for hardcore Rick Wakeman´s fans.

Tne main piece of the record (al least for progheads) is the title track with the fine intro with harpsichord and the varied moods in its 3 parts, going from dreaming and pastoral to hard rock, then going back to acoustic again and finishing with a beautiful chorus. Life Auction is another bold track, quite experimental (for Strawbs style) and haunting. Both are the best exemples of how much this band had evolve since their early days.

All other tracks are equally memorable, but were more into the Strawbs wont. The fine musicanship of this line up works wonders on everyone of them, giving Cousins lyrics the best sound landscape he ever had. Every tune is a joy to hear. And the album closes in with one of the most beautiful ballads Í heard in my life: Grace Darling. The song´s about a true story of a lighthouse keeper´s daughter who saved the lives of 9 people after a shipwreck was recorded in a church using its pipe organ and a complete choir magnificiently arranged by Robert Kirby. The result is absolutely great. Different, but great. The group never sounded so versatile and convincing.

Ghosts is Strawb´s best, combining inspiration, right production and tight musicanship. A classic record and a must have for any prog fan who considers himself a lover of the 70´s prog scene. Fice stars with honor!