The Midnight Ghost TrainCypress Ave.

The Midnight Ghost Train deliver more refined arrangements on their newest album Cypress Ave, released by Napalm Records. The opening Tonight reacquaints fans with The Midnight Ghost Train’s sound and style established in previous works like Cold was the Ground, released in 2015. But this time they slow the pace. Their instrumentals are more diffused than they are metallic or axing, while Steve Moss’ growled and textured vocals drive most tracks. The timbre of Moss’ voice echoes Tom Waits at times, but only during the more reflective, semi-narrative songs like Break my Love and Red Eyed Junkie Girl. Lemon Trees draws on their heavy blues sensibilities. A chopped up guitar riff with a bluesy Motown quality anchors this track. The Boogie Down snakes in with a Spanish guitar, and adds to Lemon Tree’s rock ’n’ soul groove with some brass. Then comes an unexpected rap verse. To include a rap track on a hard rock album is a bold choice, but it’s surprising and fresh, which is what characterises this release. Cypress Ave shows great confidence. It synthesises varied genres into an eclectic but cohesive album and shows an artistic maturity that you can expect from a band going on 10 years.

STICK THIS NEXT TO: CHRCH, Howlin’ Wolf, Me and That Man
STANDOUT TRACKS: Tonight, Break my love, Lemon Trees, The Boogie Down.