The light on the album cover may have its origins in the theatre, but it plays a metaphorical role of guiding the eleven tracks on the latest Bob Bradshaw album through a murky existence to a safe haven of mission accomplished. Part-blues infused, part-rock strands, part-standard singer-songwriter fare, THE GHOST LIGHT flickers brightest when given a bit of space to breathe. It rumbles along like long a distance train in lengthy routine stints punctuated by a couple of peaks that raise its worth.
From the positive vibes of bright upbeat opener 'Songs on the Radio' to the quirky closer 'Niagara Barrel Ride Blues', the highs crop up at unexpected interludes. Heading these are second track 'Dream' which really alters the pace from the opener in a contrasting and hazy way. Ethereal tendencies, faint steel and a gentle rolling feel describe this track that probably leads this album to the summit, although far from a sound that defines it.
Much more in tune with what the full band operation sets out to do is represented in the re-energising mid-album track '21st Century Blues'. A pick me up number just as proceedings started to drift, this uptempo piece powers on from a rock inspired start and flourishes later with some decent guitar solos. Penultimate track 'In the Dark' is where the album rocks a little deeper, but for me its predecessor 'Light of the Moon' edges it in the appreciation stakes.
Although THE GHOST LIGHT sees US based Irishman Bob Bradshaw in full band mode, you can envisage these songs having a chameleon existence when taken on the road in a stripped down front. That is for another day though as the first task of this album is to punch its weight in a crowded market. Once afforded a couple of isolated listens, the album uses the staunch bedrock of an archetypal Americana sound to make waves through a combination of spiked moments and a trusty songwriter on top of this game.
