Ghost Train

Producer Gurf Morlix continues the direction taken by Lloyd Maines on the band's previous album, focussing on studio tracking and delivering a polished, constructed album. It's not without swing (Jake Erwin's propulsive upright bass makes sure of that), but the finish is that of a studio album, rather than the live stage, and the lack of guest players creates a much more intimate sound than the band has previously laid down on wax.

The original songs give violinist Elana Fremerman and guitarist Whit Smith a chance to coin their own vocals. Smith often employs a somnambulistic style that finely matches tales of insomnia ("Sleep") and shady film noir circumstance ("It Stops With me"). Fremerman tries out several different styles, including the sort of overdubbed close-harmonies Les Paul constructed around Mary Ford ("Forget-Me-Nots," with Smith adding fluid instrumental embroidery), and winsome ballads like "Home."

The band shows itself to be increasingly immersed in their chosen style, rather than merely imitative of it. Covers of traditional gypsy and fiddle tunes ("Fuli Tschai" and "Cherokee Shuffle," respectively), minstrel songs ("Pray for the Lights to Go Out"), Tin Pan Alley (Rodgers & Hart's "You Took Advantage of Me") and Aerosmith's "Chip Away the Stone" all mingle effortlessly with the originals.

The focus on the band's three players and the extra time spent in the studio (in which they are obviously more comfortable than ever) has resulted in the most refined and focussed album of Hot Club's career. One can just imagine these tunes spinning from the speaker of your family's tube radio.

The originals here are every bit as good as the classic songs they do so well. In fact, I'd encourage them to write more!

A few months after buying this CD and listening to it many times, I had to drive a long way through bad rush-hour traffic to a wake. Normally, this would be a presciption to guarantee a foul mood. But when I popped this CD into my player... all was well in my world. It really has that kind of effect on me.

I now own all of their CDs available here - I just went to their website and see they have a few Japanese releases. I think this is their best, followed by Continental Stomp. And if they ever come to your town for a show, drop everything you're doing and make sure you get out to see them. You'll have a joyful time.