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LP
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DC 127LP
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Repressed; 2024 vinyl reissue. Green color vinyl. "Returned from early '90s Japan are the holy sounds of Ghost. Their collective, clearly inspired by various forms of transcendental music throughout history, created a new syncretic psychedelia with these albums, mixing the texture and vibe of multinational forms of traditional music, with strummed antique stringed instruments and the haunting wail of a recorder on top of their heavy beats and guitars. The considerable depth of this approach was explored through 2014 over another five Ghost LPs, as well as the further explorations to the present day of leader Masaki Batoh, as a solo artist and with The Silence, Damon & Naomi, Helena Espvall, and most recently, nehan. The first three Ghost titles (Ghost, Second Time Around, and Temple Stone) were originally released by P.S.F. on CD in 1990, 1992 and 1994, respectively, radiating enigma and energy in palpable waves with their original sound. After the acclaim that greeted Drag City's 1996 US release of Lama Rabi Rabi, the label quickly reissued all three on vinyl -- and they quickly went out of print! At which point, Ghost had Snuffbox Immanence and Free Tibet ready to go. And then, Hypnotic Underworld. And then, and then... Now, it's been 25 years since they were last offered on vinyl. In the twenty-year sweep of Ghost history, these first three releases qualify as primitive early Ghost -- sort of like a German Os Mutantes (or perhaps a Brazilian Amon Düül). The subterranean presence of a diversity of progressive/avant classic rock influences (Pink Floyd, Incredible String Band, Captain Beefheart, Scott Walker, Led Zeppelin, Popol Vuh, Third Ear Band, to name but a few) provokes further synthesis, making for an entirely new meditation on the traditional order of psychedelic music. The first two studio albums, each one an iteration of Ghost's unique lysergic folk music, were followed by the monolithic 'live in various places' happening of Temple Stone, which raised the trippiness levels considerably."
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LP
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DC 128LP
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Repressed; 2024 vinyl reissue. Blue color vinyl. "Returned from early '90s Japan are the holy sounds of Ghost. Their collective, clearly inspired by various forms of transcendental music throughout history, created a new syncretic psychedelia with these albums, mixing the texture and vibe of multinational forms of traditional music, with strummed antique stringed instruments and the haunting wail of a recorder on top of their heavy beats and guitars. The considerable depth of this approach was explored through 2014 over another five Ghost LPs, as well as the further explorations to the present day of leader Masaki Batoh, as a solo artist and with The Silence, Damon & Naomi, Helena Espvall, and most recently, nehan. The first three Ghost titles (Ghost, Second Time Around, and Temple Stone) were originally released by P.S.F. on CD in 1990, 1992 and 1994, respectively, radiating enigma and energy in palpable waves with their original sound. After the acclaim that greeted Drag City's 1996 US release of Lama Rabi Rabi, the label quickly reissued all three on vinyl -- and they quickly went out of print! At which point, Ghost had Snuffbox Immanence and Free Tibet ready to go. And then, Hypnotic Underworld. And then, and then... Now, it's been 25 years since they were last offered on vinyl. In the twenty-year sweep of Ghost history, these first three releases qualify as primitive early Ghost -- sort of like a German Os Mutantes (or perhaps a Brazilian Amon Düül). The subterranean presence of a diversity of progressive/avant classic rock influences (Pink Floyd, Incredible String Band, Captain Beefheart, Scott Walker, Led Zeppelin, Popol Vuh, Third Ear Band, to name but a few) provokes further synthesis, making for an entirely new meditation on the traditional order of psychedelic music. The first two studio albums, each one an iteration of Ghost's unique lysergic folk music, were followed by the monolithic 'live in various places' happening of Temple Stone, which raised the trippiness levels considerably."
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LP
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DC 129LP
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Repressed; 2024 vinyl reissue. Green color vinyl. "Returned from early '90s Japan are the holy sounds of Ghost. Their collective, clearly inspired by various forms of transcendental music throughout history, created a new syncretic psychedelia with these albums, mixing the texture and vibe of multinational forms of traditional music, with strummed antique stringed instruments and the haunting wail of a recorder on top of their heavy beats and guitars. The considerable depth of this approach was explored through 2014 over another five Ghost LPs, as well as the further explorations to the present day of leader Masaki Batoh, as a solo artist and with The Silence, Damon & Naomi, Helena Espvall, and most recently, nehan. The first three Ghost titles (Ghost, Second Time Around, and Temple Stone) were originally released by P.S.F. on CD in 1990, 1992 and 1994, respectively, radiating enigma and energy in palpable waves with their original sound. After the acclaim that greeted Drag City's 1996 US release of Lama Rabi Rabi, the label quickly reissued all three on vinyl -- and they quickly went out of print! At which point, Ghost had Snuffbox Immanence and Free Tibet ready to go. And then, Hypnotic Underworld. And then, and then... Now, it's been 25 years since they were last offered on vinyl. In the twenty-year sweep of Ghost history, these first three releases qualify as primitive early Ghost -- sort of like a German Os Mutantes (or perhaps a Brazilian Amon Düül). The subterranean presence of a diversity of progressive/avant classic rock influences (Pink Floyd, Incredible String Band, Captain Beefheart, Scott Walker, Led Zeppelin, Popol Vuh, Third Ear Band, to name but a few) provokes further synthesis, making for an entirely new meditation on the traditional order of psychedelic music. The first two studio albums, each one an iteration of Ghost's unique lysergic folk music, were followed by the monolithic 'live in various places' happening of Temple Stone, which raised the trippiness levels considerably."
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CD/DVD
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DC 330CD
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"At sunset on the night of October 9th, 2006, a crowd gathered at Nippon Yusen Soko, a converted warehouse space located on Yokahama Bay. Their purpose: to see and hear new music played by Ghost. Once they had completely arrived, the doors were shut and locked and the announcement made: no one would enter or exit the space until the performance was complete. Starting in complete darkness, the performance was spun, like yarn from a cocoon. The set for this evening was not just new to the audience. For this event, Ghost played entirely improvised material. Improvisation is the wellspring of creation for Ghost, both live and in the studio, though they've never made an entire album of improvisations until now. In order to not miss a single inspiration, Ghost brought their orchestra's-worth of instrumentation, playing bass, drums, piano, electric and acoustic guitars, saxophones, flute, tin-whistle, bells, frame drums, lute, tabla-baya, waterphone and even tapes! The performance space was chosen for its sonic qualities such as natural reverb as well as its resemblance to Potala Palace in Lhasa -- an ancient meditation retreat. Band members were spaced apart to prevent eye contact and allow distance for the reverberations to unfold between them -- which in turn, were recorded by four microphones spaced distantly from the band and faced toward the walls, in order to catch the sound in the room with the audience present as well as the echo of that sound. The CD performance is an edited version of the evening's events -- but the DVD is a completely live, four-camera view into the collective journey of Ghost and their audience. In addition to the sounds and sights of the band in action, the viewer will also experience the atmospheres created by Overheads, whose far-ranging light works (and subtle placement of a lace curtain) enhanced the mood within Nippon Yusen Soko that night." DVD length: 1 hr., 30 mins.; color, NTSC format; All-Region; Audio: Stereo & 5.1 Surround.
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2LP
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DC 313LP
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Double LP version; deluxe gatefold jacket. LP version features a different sequence and an exclusive extra version of Cromagnon's "Caledonia".
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CD
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DC 313CD
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"Over the hour's-worth of music and sound that makes In Stormy Nights, Ghost apply their folk sounds, improvisations and avant-garde constructions to a savage evocation. In the world we live in today, we can only imagine what this means. And we agree. Throughout In Stormy Nights there are a variety of sounds and songs, ranging from pop-folk numbers to hard rock to outré concepts held together by Ghost's diverse musical personality. The essence of Ghost is the epic 'Hemicyclic Anthelion.' Nearly thirty minutes of free improvisation from several live shows are strung together into a seamless progression. This piece is a cornerstone of In Stormy Nights and a representation of the original approach of Ghost -- pure improvisation. Ghost are forever looking for themselves in the music they make. To make ordinary beauty is easy, but Ghost are listening beyond that. Even the acid-folky songs are based in improvisation. Over the years, Ghost have never had the same lineup twice on any of their album sessions -- until now. The In Stormy Nights Ghost is the same Ghost that recorded Hypnotic Underworld and the same group that thundered across the U.S. in 2004. They display intense power on these new recordings, incorporating frame drums and tympanis and the 'springer' (a device made by Batoh that contains metal springs, a resonance box, plasma ball (light) and rotating machine to create a heavy yet Theremin-like sound) into their already-diverse orchestra. The center of the album is a series of tympani-driven songs that rock with a fury, mirroring the martial mood of our governments -- a mood that musicians and artists may not share in beyond reflecting it. This powerful section concludes with an absolutely blasting cover of Cromagnon's 'Caledonia' -- a favorite band of Ghost's that they are delighted to share with listeners in this fashion."
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CD
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DC 249CD
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"For the first time in many moons, the tribes of Earth have real call to celebrate -- the return of Ghost. Their new offering, Hypnotic Underworld, is their best album ever -- more colorful than Ghost, heavier than Temple Stone, deeper and wider than Lama Rabi Rabi, more psyched and folked than Snuffbox Immanence and Second Time Around and with a more mountainous jam than Tune In, Turn On, Free Tibet. Believe it. Yes, Hypnotic Underworld is heavy with highlights, ranging the continents in quicksilver fashion, adding 70 minutes of Ghost sounds to this world, all streamlined to an ultimate intensity."
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2LP
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DC 165LP
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1999 release, repressed on vinyl. Double LP, gatefold silver foil cover.
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CD
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DC 165CD
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"It seemed as if Ghost had been in the studio for a million years. It turned out to be only six months in our time. But with the flood of material recorded in their recent extended studio sessions, it was possible to think in terms of releasing not one, but two Ghost LPs, all at once. With Snuffbox Immanence set as the next official release, Tune In... was hastily added to the schedule. Included in the liner notes is a message from the Liason Office of his Holiness the Dalai Lama, detailing the struggles of the nation of Tibet in their ongoing bid for independence from China. Ghost add to this protest a series of dense, somber, acoustic compositions. Each of these songs turns a new page in the eternal book of Ghost. An atmosphere of morning pervades, as Ghost gives their undying respect to the nonviolent resistance of the people of Tibet
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CD
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DC 113CD
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4th album and first non-PSF full length release (worldwide release for Drag City). "Ghost was born in 1984 by some Tokyo Japan youth. At the beginning they were playing completely experimental improvisation but doing so naturally, as a form of worship. Through the production of the 1st album Ghost, and their second, Second Time Around, their sound has slowly changed to the expression of songwriting. Along the way, they have attracted attention for their fascination with traditional Japanese religious music, and a fascination with trance-rock jamming, as well. Last year, the third Ghost album, Temple Stone appeared, containing ten tunes recorded live at an old Buddhist temple and a church. Their live activities are usually held in magical patterns. They used to play anywhere (temple, church, field, woods, ruins, etc.) with an ideal of conception and creation free from constraint. Their purpose is real spiritual music when and wheresoever they play it."
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