Search - Husky Rescue :: Ghost Is Not Real

The butterflies are frightened by your words

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 03/26/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The intention of Husky Rescue might have been to make warm music for a cold life, but there's a chilly prettiness to their astonishing second album "Ghost is Not Real." The pretty Finnish pop is upped a notch, to windy tinkly experimental pop that sweeps out into the epic at times, before shrinking back to a delicate folk sound.



"This is my home/the place where I'm lonely/ghost... is.... not... real," Reeta-Leena Korhola intones over a rippling, windy pop tune, with her words punctuated by a xylophone chime. The song expands out into a sweeping, cinematic tune that blows across speakers like a chilly wind.



The band pulls back a bit for the folky "Diamonds in the Sky," bouncy synthpop, eerie ambient pop, tinkling rippling melodies full of handclaps, and gentle folk laced with chilly synth. There's even the three-part experimental song "Blueberry Tree": shimmering, sparkling wintry melodies filled with sunshiny songwriting.



"Country Falls" was an amazing pop album, but "Ghost is Not Real" takes the entire snow-folk sound to new heights. Maybe it's because the band expanded from only one regular member -- frontman Marko Nyberg -- to a four-five-person band.



But whatever the cause, it's about as appealing and colourful as the Northern Lights, but quirkier. The music is a smooth collection of solid guitar, flute and drums, forming a sort of folk base. A lot of these songs are catchy mainly because of them, but sometimes they fade out almost completely, except for a soft guitar strum or flute.



But the music is wrapped in a layer of chilly keyboard that tinkles, sweeps and whistles like winter wind. And Husky Rescue know how to make the music go wherever they want -- songs like "Blueberry Tree III" spiral up into the sky, growing more intense and painfully exquisite with each rising riff.



With music that intense, it's kind of a surprise that many of the songs are as sunny as they are, with stuff about sunbeams and "your smile in the stars." But they also dabble in more fearful topics: "I'm afraid to fall asleep for dreams/I belong to you/in this world, you're for me." And it's all sung in Korhola's pretty, childlike voice.



The ghost may not be real, but "Ghost Is Not Real" is a magnificent return for Husky Rescue, taking electronic pop up to new levels. Absolutely stunning."

The five from Helsinki do it again

I. Ebright | 02/28/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been falling in love with Husky Rescue ever since my friend played 'Country Falls' for me. I've listened to that disc countless times during the past year or so, and more recently had the chance to see the band live in Seattle. Their performance was completely mesmerizing, and they even shared some new songs for us fans. My anticipation for their follow-up has been sky high ever since.



It's been awhile, and fortunately 'Ghost is Not Real' does not dissapoint. The album is definitive Husky Rescue, and compliments the scope and imagination of 'Country Falls' with more of the same. While both albums have epic intentions, this one is a colder, more isolated journey.



The band's evolution is evident on songs like 'Blueberry Tree,' a three-part masterpiece that finishes up in the stratosphere. 'Hurricane', 'Nightless Night,' 'My Home Ghost,' 'Diamonds In The Sky' and 'Caravan' are distinct pleasures, and even the two spoken-word tracks are far more imaginative and useful than those on 'Country Falls.' It's particularly amazing how they use the little things- like the subtle layers of guitar picking and synth work- to keep you glued to the music.



This is an album of rich beauty. Rarely is music more skillful, unique, visual or cathartic. This effort by the Helsinki five is worth every penny.







"

Pleasant, but falls short

Kort Kramer | South Florida, USA | 06/27/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I am a big fan of Country Falls and was looking forward to this release.

Now that I have it, I am sadly a bit disappointed.

Sure, it has their trademark sound which is always nice, but as an album it feels a bit lacking.



Maybe with repeat listens it will grow on me, but after several listens, the only standouts are tracks 4-6, Blueberry Tree Parts I-III -- and that could have been made into one long song. It is a love set of songs, but not enough to carry an entire album. At a mere 42:29 minutes in length, it would have made a good EP, but as a full album, it doesn't quite cut it. The other tracks are nice, but nothing memorable like countless tracks from Country Falls.



I am still a fan, but hope for better come album #3.

Great album design btw, though the disc is in a slipcase and not a tray.



EDIT: Weeks later, the album has indeed grown on me as have some of the other songs, but I have to say that is it still not quite as enjoyable as their previous album."