It must be something in their blending of traditional folk instruments and a more modern rock vibe, that mix of comfort and adventure, the tried and tested past and the open potential of a bright new future, that makes Lusitanian Ghosts sound both wonderfully familiar and yet amazing fresh. And “Shameless”, the new one from this Portuguese-Canadian-Swedish collective, is yet another brilliant example of what they do so well.
Sitting at the end of a series of sonic stepping stones which lead the listener from 60’s coffee shop folk singers to 70’s folk-rock bands to the big music of the 80’s and the indie-folk boom of the 21st century, Lusitanian Ghosts is the perfect summation of everything sonically great to be found in such evolutions. Great lyrics, the right blend of pop poise and rock muscle, the slightly anthemic nature of the music, and their ability to work with older music forms and turn them into revolutionary new versions for a modern audience. The sound of the past, re-imagined for the present, and in doing so, pointing to a bright new folk future.
I grew up in the era of Celtic rock and Big Music, and if, like me, you still have several Big Country, Bunnymen, The Alarm, and especially, Waterboys’ albums tucked away, then these guys are the obvious modern torch bearers for such a scene and perhaps even the instigators of a long over due revival for that sound today. Wouldn’t that be something?
Order the ‘Shameless’ single
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The Long Train
