Driving a ragtop Malibu down Las Vegas Boulevard with Don and Frank has obviously left its mark on Joshua Ellis’ and his newly released “Ghosts in A Burning City” album.
There is a sound of sun permeating the whole album, whether it be the bastardized version of Boys of Summer skewed by exposure to the midday Nevada sun which is the opening track “Scatterlings and Refugees”, the hazy ambience of “Airport Terminal” or the overcooked manic guitar on “Divine Intervention”, with dust devils harassing the old Chevy as we desperately try to get out of the city. It’s there lurking in the background of the menacing “Berlin Floor Show”, but this isn’t lets get bronzed sun, oh no this is your gonna get burned, you’re gonna get burned real bad, and your gonna love it! The bleached bones of Cohen and Waits lie supine in the desert sun throughout the minimalist "Not in this world.." before being strung up ang juiced by the cybersound of "Scarecrow", whilst "The Secret King of Africa" punctuates the soundtrack like some delirious hallucination bought on by a cocktail of too much sun and a few too many tequilas whilst
"Every hour wounds" pares the sound down to a post punk ditty with echoes of the Pixies (and all descendants thereof) but not before a nod and a wink to the best of the british new wave.
The title track drips vitriol as Joshua rips into the fallacy of Hollywood's Vegas that has been fed to us, but has to be listened in conjunction with "Sleeping in Flame", which tempers that emotion, adding an air of desperate melancholy to the mix.
In my opinion Mr Ellis leaves the best till last "Coda:Requiem for a Diplomat". A lament in three four time well suited to Joshuas vocal delivery with well crafted lyrics and a brilliant arrangement. For this track alone the minstrel deserves rewarding with filthy lucre.
Ghosts in A Burning City is available via http://www.redstatesoundsystem.com/
