There's always a bit of a risk as a music fan when a band you like get back together and decide to record a new album; will nostalgia prove too strong and result in a watered down version of what onces was or, worse still, will the result be an ill-judged attempt at keeping up with current music trends? Thankfully, the answer in this case is neither of those two options.
Ghost Notes plays like a natural progression of where the band would have went after 1997's Eight Arms to Hold You, a continuation rather than an attempt at recapturing.
What made Veruca Salt so great has always been the collaboration between Nina Gordon and Louise Post; the harmonies, the undeniable chemistry that couldn't help but shine through on record. That chemistry has seemed to, somehow, have grown even stronger as they explore the emotional scars of the past 19 years. I no longer find myself mentally classifying tracks as "Louise Songs" and "Nina Songs", their input here is seamless, examining a period that is both a shared experience yet unique to each of them.
"Empty Bottle" serves as the album's epicentre, its verses, sad and lamenting, building up to the adrenalin fuelled chorus.
Ghost Notes is an album of both sugary sweetness and deep catharsis; the lyrics are, at times, painful yet the relief brought by their inception is obvious. Already-fans of the band will love this, and if you've yet to hear Veruca Salt then this is as good a place to start as any.
Rating: 4.5/5
Standout Tracks: Empty Bottle, Laughing in the Sugar Bowl, Alternica
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