Ghost X Gardens Releases 'Heartbreak Hotel Chelsea'
Art rock, baroque operatic flavors, and Storme' DeLarverie make this album a must-listen
The Hotel Chelsea is notorious for its famous guests, notorious excess and even murder. Adam Rushfield, aka Ghost x Gardens, lived at the hotel the year everything came undone.
While residing there, Rushfield spent time with the Chelsea Hotel's cross-dressing matriarch, Storme' DeLarverie, listening to her alcohol-fueled reminiscences, recording her voice, as well as the album.
Recently released, Heartbreak Hotel Chelsea mirrors Rushfield's experiences and musical pursuits while residing at the hotel. The music is grandly magnificent, while simultaneously emanating the ozone smelling mists accompanying the hotel's ghosts.
Over the years, Rushfield has released music utilizing a variety of aliases. His sound, art rock, exudes a chaotic charm described as "if The Beatles and Wu-Tang Clan had a baby raised by Lou Reed."
Encompassing 12 tracks, the album opens with "Hittin The Bricks," a jazz-flavored rock tune with bright horns, dirty guitars, glossy background vocals, and Rushfield's piercing rasping tenor. The retro energy suffusing the music adds to its delicious infectious colors.
Other highlights on the album include "Louisiana Liar," conjuring up visions of Freddie Mercury and Meat Loaf because of its baroque operatic ambience. "The Ghost Song" oozes jazz and Mississippi blues flavors, along with gospel-like vocal harmonies. The dark and dangerous flow of the tune arrives on the drawling guitar and squalling horns.
"Concealed Weapon" exudes the grimy colors and feel of grunge-flavored punk combined with opera. A powerfully crunching rhythm drives the murky guitars, as operatic-lite harmonics stream muscularly overhead. This is a wonderful song.
Interspersed between Rushfield's songs are conversations and songs from DeLarverie, forming what Rushfield calls "an album with the album." It's singularly imaginative and effective beyond belief, due to the residual energy emanating from DeLarverie's words and voice.
Heartbreak Hotel Chelsea is stupendous. Don't miss this one.
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Randy Radic is a Left Coast author and writer. Author of numerous true crime books written under the pen-name of John Lee Brook. Former music contributor at Huff Post.