In Stormy Nights, at just six songs, is book-ended by two relatively lovely listens. Opener "Motherly Bluster" isn't as vitriolic as its name suggests. Instead, it features slippery guitar chords and airy flutes, a tick-tock chorus, and a thickly orchestral ending fleshed out with cellos and wind chimes. The same rustic, rural, simple sound comes back on closer "Grisaille," on which lead singer Masaki Batoh laments, over skillful acoustic guitar work, "You know that time fades away." The song ends with an astral electric guitar solo and swirling synths.  Full text...

Veterans now, they spill the blood of psychedelia, looking up with feral grins and young eyes.   Full text...

A full 28 minutes of fractious, abstract sound-war that is only intermittently compelling.  Full text...

In Stormy Nights-- with its numerous false leads, over-the-top presentation and undisguised self-indulgence-- can hardly be said to be a perfect work, one has to admire and celebrate Ghost's determination never to step in the same river twice.  Full text...

In Stormy Nights is a monster, both in style and length. Acid folk rambles share space with flights of improvising fancy and stomping crucibles of world-angst, making for an hour of willful genre-melt and satisfying ear-burn.  Full text...

Maybe pastiche is inevitable, even in the Japanese avant garde scene (the track "Umo," from the last OOIOO album, sounded suspiciously like Toni Basil's "Hey Mickey"), but can't it at least be a little more fun?  Full text...