Currituk Co. is chiefly the project of Aden's Kevin Barker, who certainly seems to be into the idea of concept albums, sequences, and backstories. Ghost Man on Second, for starters, is the second in a series of records, of which the first was titled -- you guessed it -- Ghost Man on First. Ghost Man on Second is a double-disc behemoth soundtrack to a "fabled boat-trip," and, well, I'll let the press release do the talking: the disc "begin(s) with the creaking aged planks of our fair schooner, finding an intermission in Space as we change discs and aim our sights back to From-Where-We-Came, and ending quietly with a prayer for the love of Home to find us, and keep us safe." Sounds like some bullshit to me. Regardless, Ghost Man on Second's first disc manages to be generally pretty and moderately entertaining. "Embark" takes 16:34 to work its way from tribal minimalism to something like a hoedown, and "Don't the Road Look Rough and Ready" sounds a bit like a pared-down Do Make Say Think or Six Organs of Admittance's earlier work. "My Home," showcasing the only vocals (and the shortest track length) on the disc, succeeds despite some weak lyrics ("My home ain't in the hall of fame/ you can go there and you won't find my name"). "Space Crusin" closes the first disc (titled "In Turn Returns") on a 20-minute drone which doesn't do anything for this listener.
Ghost Man on Second's second hour-long disc, "In Two Towards," beings with a "remix" of "Space Cruisin Boogie," which continues the monotony of the first disc's last track. Things continue running backwards, as "Don't the C Look Wide and Deep" sounds like an 11-minute version of disc one's "Don't the Road Look Rough and Ready," and "Disembark" sounds a hell of a lot like "Embark." Finally, "Where is My Friend" is the second song of reasonable length on Ghost Man on Second, and, big surprise, has some more vocals. The song also sounds a lot like "My Home," but wisely adds a second guitar and some atmospheric production. By my count that makes two good songs (around three minutes apiece) buried in two hours of music, padded out with some pleasant but unremarkable noodling. Think I'll pass.
"In Turn Returns"
Currituk Co. is chiefly the project of Aden's Kevin Barker, who certainly seems to be into the idea of concept albums, sequences, and backstories. Ghost Man on Second, for starters, is the second in a series of records, of which the first was titled -- you guessed it -- Ghost Man on First. Ghost Man on Second is a double-disc behemoth soundtrack to a "fabled boat-trip," and, well, I'll let the press release do the talking: the disc "begin(s) with the creaking aged planks of our fair schooner, finding an intermission in Space as we change discs and aim our sights back to From-Where-We-Came, and ending quietly with a prayer for the love of Home to find us, and keep us safe." Sounds like some bullshit to me. Regardless, Ghost Man on Second's first disc manages to be generally pretty and moderately entertaining. "Embark" takes 16:34 to work its way from tribal minimalism to something like a hoedown, and "Don't the Road Look Rough and Ready" sounds a bit like a pared-down Do Make
Say Think or Six Organs of Admittance's earlier work. "My Home," showcasing the only vocals (and the shortest track length) on the disc, succeeds despite some weak lyrics ("My home ain't in the hall of fame/ you can go there and you won't find my name"). "Space Crusin" closes the first disc (titled "In Turn Returns") on a 20-minute drone which doesn't do anything for this listener.
Ghost Man on Second's second hour-long disc, "In Two Towards," beings with a "remix" of "Space Cruisin Boogie," which continues the monotony of the first disc's last track. Things continue running backwards, as "Don't the C Look Wide and Deep" sounds like an 11-minute version of disc one's "Don't the Road Look Rough and Ready," and "Disembark" sounds a hell of a lot like "Embark." Finally, "Where is My Friend" is the second song of reasonable length on Ghost Man on Second, and, big surprise, has some more vocals. The song also sounds a lot like "My Home," but wisely adds a second guitar and some atmospheric production. By my count that makes two good songs (around three minutes apiece) buried in two hours of music, padded out with some pleasant but unremarkable noodling. Think I'll pass.
"In Turn Returns"
1. Embark
2. The Ark
3. My Home
4. Don't the Road Look Rough and Ready
5. Space Crusin'
"In Two Towards"
1. Space Cruisin' Boogie (remix)
2. Don't the C Look Wide and Deep
3. Disembark
4. Where is my Friend?