Mark Gardener - These Beautiful Ghosts

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 24 / 1 / 2007

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Mark Gardener is the former frontman on the Creation label and indie guitar/shoegazing band Ride. They were the first band on that label to get to the top of the mainstream charts. 'These Beautiful Ghosts' is Mark's first solo studio album, even though he went solo back in 1994 and he has also released a 'Live in New York' solo CD It has been recorded with his backing band whom are fellow Oxford band, Goldrush, and, while at the moment only available on import from American label United for Opportunity, features two singles off it which were recorded for two different British labels. It begins with 'Snow in Mexico', which starts with edgy bass and drums before a smooth acoustic guitar cuts in. Mark's vocals are in perfect harmony with them. The music on this opening song sounds something like the Byrds, and sets the tone for the rest of the album immediately showing that it is in no way another version of Ride, just this time with different members. 'Getting Out of Your Way' has an echoing vocal and is good solid adult-flavoured intelligent rock at it's best. 'To Get Me Through' is more electronic based and has a distorted vocal. It is slow paced until the band kicks in, and then it sounds like an experimental Beatles number from approximately 1965 or 1966. The classy 'Magdalen Sky' was a single on Shifty Disco back in 1994. Every note is perfect with a vocal to match. 'Rhapsody' sounds like an early to mid 60's number, sung through rose tinted glasses. It is absolutely lovely too, with a guitar solo that sounds like the Who. 'Summer Turns to Fall' sounds like a classic Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young track, but with a Celtic flavour. The title track is a beautiful acoustic number. It fades into the dark-flavoured 'Flaws of Perception', which has prog rock undertones and sounds like a classical version of a Slowdive song, being played by an orchestra conducted by Massive Attack. 'Story of the Eye', the stand out track, has recently been released as a single by Sonic Cathedral. It just jumps out and is classic rock with a trancy feel and dub beats. 'Where Are You Now ?' is a folk rock number with gentle harmonies. 'Water and Wine' is a song about moving on, and sounds like a combination of the Beatles and the Beach Boys. 'Gravity Flow' ends the album, and, despite having the sort of title that would have appeared on a Ride album, is actually quite folky. It sounds like the Wings track '1985' from their 1973 'Band on the Run' album and has a trancy style vocal by Mark. Not the album then that Ride fans might have expected at all, but all the better for being so different.

Track Listing:-

1 Snow In Mexico
2 Getting Out of Your Own Way
3 To Get Me Through
4 Magdalen Sky
5 Rhapsody
6 Summer Turns to Fall
7 Beautiful Ghosts
8 Flaws of Perception
9 The Story of the Eye
10 Where Are You Now?
11 Water and Wine
12 Gravity Flow
13 Turn
14 Where Are You Now? (Electric)
15 Gravity Flow (Remix)
16 Dreams Burn Down

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