Bob Hillman & Spooky Ghost
Self-Released, 2020
9/10
Listen to Bob Hillman & Spooky Ghost
The San Francisco singer-songwriter Bob Hillman takes a unique approach to pop and rock with his self-described ‘Noise Folk’ on this 5 song EP, where he collaborates with Gerry Leonard, aka Spooky Ghost, who brings his esteemed guitar prowess to the formula.
Hillman starts the listen with the ambient noise of “Somebody’s Watching You”, where programming from Leonard enters the adventurous landscape that’s part folk-rock, part experimental rock, and “We May Be Getting Better (When We’re Not Getting Worse)” aligns strong acoustic guitar with much atmosphere that’s sonically adventurous yet still very warm.
In the middle, the firm beat of the dreamy “Elena (The Shadow Of A Shadow)” brings in impressive backing female vocals from Jaimee Harris alongside Hillman’s smooth delivery, while “Las Vegas” moves cautiously with a darker quality that’s both daring and mysterious. “Urban Wildlife” exits the listen, and recruits Paul Bryan on bass and Yuval Lion on drums as Harris and Hillman harmonize beautifully on the vintage soft rocker that’s more on par with Hillman’s previous, more traditional folk songs.
Hillman has already made fans out of David Crosby and Peter Himmelman, and, if you’re willing to devote sometime to this effort, you’re likely to become one, too.
Travels well with: Peter Himmelman- Press On; Peter Mulvey- There Is Another World