Bruce Soord – Ghosts in the Park

 

Bruce Soord – Ghosts in the Park

by Pete Clemons

Making music from adversity is a powerful process of transforming trauma into triumph.

I will never let this happen to you while I'm alive, Not while I'm alive. You made a promise, You would look after me - Is it now a lie?, Take heart we are all here – these are just a few of the lyrics contained within the new Bruce Soord album 'Ghosts in the Park'.

And the contrivance of this involves challenges, pain and loss as fuel for its creative expression. All of which is deeply personal.

'Nothing extraordinary' though Bruce alludes to in the sleeve notes. To my mind – and the way I have read it anyway - Bruce is acknowledging that, in the grand scheme of things, he is not alone. We could all face similar challenges at some point in our lives.

But, (and I'm trying to remember Bruce's words from a recent gig), he wanted these new songs to remember the times from when he was young and not necessarily reflect back on all the difficult days.

But, of course, when you are confronted by these issues, it is one of the most extraordinary personal challenges you will confront. It can all be so frustrating, deeply upsetting and incredibly difficult to come back from.

Music serves as a lifeline and sanctuary for expressing emotions that are difficult to otherwise articulate. This is a cathartic exercise of providing some relief through the open expression of intense emotions.

On this album you find a set of songs that can soothe, even melt a stoic mindset such as mine. It has certainly had me in reflective mood lately.

The songs emphasise themes of resilience, acceptance of fate, emotional control, and finding inner peace amidst chaos.

This new set of songs, together, is quite simply a wondrous album. Just absorb and file under engaging, exquisite and elegant.

Yet while adversity can be challenging, it can clearly be a profound source of inspiration for music that offers hope, redemption, and connection to others. I think 'Ghosts in the Park' does just that.

This album hasn't been written in a pitiful way. You are not fully entering Bruce's world, you are I think, looking into a slightly open window. This isn't how life should be but, sadly, it can.