Review By Joel Hargreaves

Although, MICHAEL STRONG AND THE GHOST ANYWAY may have only had a short career thus far, it’s been a career that has definitely turned plenty of heads. The band released their debut full length album ‘On the Outskirts of Logic Town’ in 2009 and received huge praise from their local area. Recently they have been back in the studio to record a follow-up record and the final result is, ‘Black Room White Room’.

‘Black Room White Room’ is the second release from the Perth outfit and builds steadily on what they already know, yet manages to add another level of sophisticated depth to their original sound. The lead track of the EP kicks off with a funky bass driven beat and mixes it with some rather haunting vocal work. ‘All Your Devils’ also features a prominent guitar riff which causes the listener to be completely drawn into the music structure itself. For example, due to the tempo and change in momentum heard in the second half of the song – along with the music’s ability to draw the listener in – you completely get the sense of falling. This ability to let the listener become one with the music creates a richer experience and leads perfectly into the next track.

‘Country Shopkeeper’ consists of a slow build up and Michael Strong’s voice used in a more natural manner. The earthy, country vibes to this song exude poise and show the listener how the musicians take care with sculpting their music. After ‘Country Shopkeeper’ cools down to a nice finish, ‘Young Heart’ follows and yet again shows the band’s talent in another light.

‘Young Heart’ is the lead single of the release and is the most radio friendly. It’s a very solid track which is driven home by a powerful bass riff, warm vocals and a sing-along chorus. Hints of piano can also be remotely heard, adding another light touch to the song. There’s also a lot more unique touches that can be heard on the remaining two tracks of the album.

‘River’ features the best vocals heard on the record; these stop on a number of occasions only to pick up stronger shortly after. However this song becomes repetitive towards the end of the track and perhaps could have been slightly shorter.

‘Revelation Road’ is the last track on the EP and the most musically deep. This song is the longest track on the release and builds up to a frantic yet beautiful ending. A brilliant guitar solo also sweeps the listener away towards the ending of the track, helping it to excel above the rest.

Michael Strong And The Ghost Anyway have once again shown their uncanny ability to craft songs that captivate the listener compelling them to feel one with the music. I believe this ability to completely hypnotize the listener is a rare thing to find in music and only bands who persist with it become leaders in the industry. Future refinement and commitment by ‘Michael Strong And The Ghost Anyway’ will see more boundaries being pushed and more doors being opened. Their unique blend pop-rock has huge potential to cross into mainstream music. Even if takes time for the majority of people to warm up to their music, I’m sure they’ll be cosy in no time.

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