Ghost “Rite Here Rite Now”
When that riff kicks in on Faith, you know the one, that stomping thudding groove complimented by those ghoulish vocals, that soaring solo and ‘Faith is mine mother fuckers!’ told to a crowd that chants, you become how aware this song takes on another level when played live.
For that is track four of the official soundtrack to Rite Here Rite Now, the Ghost concert film which was released last month on two nights worldwide and in a live setting, this sounds magical.
For a Ghost show is a combination of sermon and clergy with devout followers. Songs of praise, speaking in tongues and convulsing dancing are brought to the fore and finally a live release can be enjoyed at your home, in your car or to help remain calm at work.
Live albums can be notoriously sketchy. Many have failed to capture the energy of the show, some are dubbed extensively, while some enhance the songs to levels that make your heart beat faster.
This album is the latter. A heart racing, sonic explosion of song. Beautiful, powerful and a bit sexy.
Recorded over two nights at the LA Forum, it engages early and puts a spell on you that transports you right there on the barrier.
Going over their complete career, there are songs for everyone, Spillways with its 80’s hair metal piano, Cirice doom riffage with beautiful melody and a foot stomping Absolution which captures the electricity in the venue through your speakers.
The crowd participation in the beautifully eerie If You Have Ghosts will have the hairs your neck stand up. Twenties bombastic in the way intended, and the hip swaying Mary On A Cross a Californian song for California.
Tobias Forge is a gentlemanly front man. Gracious, charming and alluring with his Swedish accent, the audience hangs on his every word.
Respite On The Spitalfields almost brings you to tears such is the emotion of the tracks ending, sounding – dare I say it – angelic in a arena setting. Dance Macabre has never sounded so infectious and Square Hammer just sits on your chest and engulfs your soul.
This is all what a live album should be. A collection of tracks that sounds like Tesla himself connected them to the amps, an audience that swarms the music and an unholy way to actually see sounds. If this is your introduction to Ghost or you’re a seasoned fan, this live album is a must.
Album Review By Iain McCallum
