speed of dark

Ever since i guess I'm floating blog posted "Blueberry Tree Part II" last November, I've been anticipating the release of Husky Rescue's second full-length CD, Ghost Is Not Real. I've probably checked every week since the first of the year on either hype machine or the band's website or their myspace page for more songs or news of the album's release. That's how impressed I was with the beauty of that one song.

Finally the bulletin came this week that it is now available on iTunes, and I swiftly downloaded it. After all that mental build-up, I am not disappointed, even though I'm not as crazy about every song as I am about that one.

The album is nicely cohesive, both sonically and thematically. Ghosts from the past, butterflies, the place where dreams and real life blur, and journeys, predominately spiritual ones, create the gauzy fabric of this CD. "My Home Ghost" is a moody opener, great late-night listening-type stuff. "Nightless Nights" is the most upbeat and danceable of the tracks, a reminder that while Husky Rescue's home country, Finland, actually has nights lacking darkness, that darkness is still lurking and ready to come back with a vengeance. So dance while you can! "Diamonds in the Sky" are the stars that brighten even the darkest nights.

"The Blueberry Tree," Parts I, II, and III make a beautiful trio, flowing smoothly from a delicate introduction to a luscious, gooey, cooing/mewing middle, to a powerful instrumental ending. Part III starts with a train whistle, then begins chugging and slowly picking up steam until you finally arrive at the end, breathless and thoroughly satisfied.

Following that journey is another gorgeous song, "Hurricane (Don't Come Knocking)," a warning against a disastrous love affair.

I don't need you rocking my world
I don't feel like spinning around
The butterflies are frightened by your words
Terrified by silent sounds
I'm afraid to fall asleep for dreams
You belong to me
In this world, I'm for you

I'm not as fond of the spoken-word "Silent Woods" or the rap-like "Shadow Run," but others may enjoy them more.

The final journey is a track called "Caravan." The question of whether to stay or leave is accented nicely by an electronic approximation of a hawk's cry. There is a sound like a crow in another song. Pretty neat.

OK, so let's add them up: of ten songs, I like eight, and five are songs I'm really glad that I have. Ghost Is Not Real may not be in my Top 10 albums by the end of the year, but I'm pretty sure there's a favorite song in there. I'm giving it a thumbs up.

Blueberry Tree Part II
Hurricane (Don't Come Knocking)

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