It's a good thing that Marty Wilson-Piper left The Church. The freedom's given him the ability to make new music on his own terms, as we can hear in this first taste of the upcoming 2024 Arktik Lake record. And, of course, his skills are not saddled to the lugubriousness and bloat of his former outfit's most recent offerings.
"Bright Sunny Days" has a subtle hook, one buoyed by Marty's vocals. The song feels like it's about to break forth and roar, but it is all coiled emotion here with little flashes of release. The understated appeal of this one nods in the direction of past gems like "Feel" from 1992's Priest = Aura or "City" from Gold Afternoon Fix from 1990.
I'm looking forward to the full album from Arktik Lake. Ghosthound will be out in 2024. More details via the official website.
[Photo: Olivia Wilson-Piper]