We first heard from Roam Like Ghosts back in 2021 upon the release of their sophomore album To That Place You Call Home. That record introduced the songwriting duo Mathew Daugherty (vocals) and Bucky Fairfax (guitars). Their career-spanning collaboration began thirty years ago when the two were both members of the nationally touring rock band SEDAH.
The group dropped their debut album Yesterday and the Day Before in 2017. Shortly thereafter, bassist Bobby DeRosa joined their ranks as a touring and studio musician. He became a full-time member in 2023.
Church is the brand new album from Roam Like Ghosts, released worldwide via all major streaming services on November 22, 2024. The ten-song set is a showcase for both the songwriting versatility and technical ability of three experienced musicians. Offered in their signature style, the record is a genre-fluid and philosophical exploration of universal themes.
Lyrically the album reads like a cohesive and often deeply personal poetic examination of transformation in its many forms. The LP opens with a gospel intro before the beat drops on the up-tempo countrified rocker “Death and Me”. Its blurred genre-lines, radio-ready hook, and metaphysical themes set the stage for a fun ride.
They dish out some solid Americana on the melancholy anthem “The Weight” and the heartfelt ballad “Not Giving up on You”. The acoustic lament “Futures” shows their folkier side. Then the band cranks up their amplifiers to 11, as they teeter precariously between alternative rock and outlaw country on the barn-burner “Casual Conversations About Serious Situations.”
Throughout the record, Roam Like Ghosts slide musical styles around like puzzle pieces. From the Tijuana brass and syncopated Latin groove of “Hasta Luego” to the psychedelic intro and electronic/acoustic experimentation of the instrumental album closer “Somnumbra Atra”, these skilled and seasoned players ride the changes with ease. They go wherever the song needs them.
Check out Church in its entirety below, or listen on your favorite streaming service. You can also hear the tracks “Blame Game” and “Hasta Luego” on the Deep Dive : Pop & Rock playlist. Follow the links below to connect with the band.
Connect with Roam Like Ghosts
