Ghost
Tune In, Turn On, Free Tibet
[Drag City]
Rating: 5.7
Ghost have been around for eleven years. Bet'cha didn't know that. Now
you do. According to the All Music Guide, the guys in the band are rumored
to lead sort of nomadic existences, "drifting from ruins of ancient temples
to disused subway stations around Tokyo." While that sounds glamorous and
all, I'm not sure it's really the case.
See, Ghost are relatively prolific. They usually unleash albums on us
unsuspecting North American citizens in groups. Their American debut,
the beautiful Lama Rabi Rabi, was released in the Spring of 1996.
Ghost returned to the scene in 1997 with three albums: a decent self-
titled record, Second Time Around (which is supposedly one of
their best-- I still have to make it to the record store for that one),
and a live album called Temple Stone. (Not to mention Ghost
frontman Masaki Batoh's two solo albums.) Yeah, those were all released
in 1997.
Now, for those of you lacking calendars, it's 1999, and Ghost are back with
two new records: the incredible Snuffbox Immanence and Tune In,
Turn On, Free Tibet. For the record, Snuffbox Immanence is
the better of these two releases. (I reviewed it a couple of months ago--
check the archive for the low- down.) Tune In, Turn On, Free Tibet
appears to be a more casual affair. This time around, the band seems less
interested in arrangements and songwriting structure, and more into freeform
psychedelia.
Free Tibet is, as could be suspected, more of that good ol'
fashioned anti- Chinese propaganda that's so in style right now. The
disc's liner notes even feature a lengthy statement regarding the current
situation in Tibet written by the Dalai Lama's liaison officer (who,
apparently, doesn't have a name). It talks about the usual stuff:
oppression, ethnic minorities, severe deforestation, etc. But it's what's
on the record that counts, isn't it? Okay, I'm getting to that.
The eight songs that comprise Free Tibet blend together in such
a way that the album comes off more like one piece with eight movements.
Sure, it wouldn't have hurt if they'd tossed a little more diversity in
with these tracks, but what they've got serves its purpose well enough.
The purpose, of course, was to record beautiful protest songs, a concept
that's rarely been executed in indie rock. And they succeeded. These
songs are beautiful and they do make valid points. The
problem is, they just don't go anywhere.
Despite my endless infatuation with Snuffbox Immanence, Free
Tibet seems more like an afterthought than a follow-up. There's a lot
of sameness to these tracks, with the exception of the record's sparkling
gem, "Way to Shelkar." The album's closer and title track is one of the
best examples of this: it's a 34- minute- long ambient jam with little
variation to keep the listener interested. Where's the inspiration,
man? Where's the love, brotha? I wanna feel the love! I wanna hear
the anger! Give us some emotion!
These guys are capable of recording fantastic drug music-- they are,
without a doubt, masters of modern psychedelia. But if there's one
thing the world doesn't need, it's another product with the words "Free
Tibet" in its title. Instead, go grab yourself a copy of Snuffbox
Immanence and find out why Ghost are being called "the new donkey
sex."
-Ryan Schreiber