Album Review: Ryan Hamilton & The Harlequin Ghosts - "Nowhere To Go But Everywhere"

 

Following a turbulent year, it's good to see Ryan Hamilton back with a new album. Since his previous effort, 2018’s This Is The Sound, not only have the Harlequin Ghosts changed guitarists with Main Grains/Spangles man Ben Marsden replacing Dave Winkler but Hamilton has gone through a divorce and has described Nowhere To Go... as being his breakup album, written while road tripping across the States to try and get his head in order. These things can go one of two ways - either a really well-handled album that you'll come back to when you're needing a bit of solace for some heartache or an absolute klutzfest which sees a previously respectable band well and truly tank their credibility (fans of Marilyn Manson and Rancid may allow themselves a rueful nod and a sigh here).

I'm happy to report that Nowhere To Go But Everywhere definitely falls into the former category though. Hamilton has always been a guy with a keen ear for a melody and he's on good form here. Yes, it's definitely a bit of a more gently-paced beast than its predecessor but when you listen to achingly lovely songs like Let's Go Slow and Don't Fall Apart, you'd have to be pretty cold-hearted to not appreciate the craft therein especially in times like these where I think a lot of us could use a bit of reassurance and an arm around our collective shoulders to tell us everything's gonna be alright. Likewise the 29 x The Pain style ode to musical influences of Oh No and the lyrical witticisms of Jesus And John Lennon about how some things are just never meant to be are fine moments indeed.

There's definitely a bit of a country influence at work on here as you'd expect from Hamilton and the likes of the piano-led Southern Accents and the steel guitar driven "forgive and forget" sentiments of We Gave It Hell work well. Similarly, the ode to Geordie lasses Newcastle Charm is another good 'un and the gentle Pick Yourself Up sees Hamilton channelling the spirit of one of his major influences Tom Petty to good effect for an album closer.

Not just a breakup album, Nowhere To Go But Everywhere actually serves a double purpose - it's the musical equivalent of putting on a nice warm jumper and snuggling up under your duvet on a horrible rainy November evening and gently shutting the world outside. Warm, reassuring and packed full of tunes and tenderness, Hamilton and his band have served up a good one here which should help to cheer up anyone who needs a bit of reassurance at the moment. You can download it from the Harlequin Ghosts Bandcamp page.

NITE SONGS RATING: 🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌑🌑 (8/10)