Here goes another review of a band featured on the Twilight Saga: New Moon motion picture soundtrack. No worries, though, Tonight is the Ghost is a whole heck of a lot more exciting and very, very different from the b-side release featured on the soundtrack to the teenybopper vampire love story. The album is sonically creative; it has well-appropriated guitar rhythms set against steady drums. One of the most interesting aspects of Hurricane Bells’ debut album is the true folk-pop sound that resonates throughout. Sure, there are songs that are upbeat, but it is the slow-paced, acoustic installments that caught my attention. Seems pretty simple, right? Wrong. Another important fact to consider is that Hurricane Bells is comprised solely of Longwave singer/guitarist Steve Schiltz. Yep, another one-man band makes its way onto the indie scene. Fortunately, Schiltz more than makes a name for himself on his solo debut.

The ability of fresh fish to differentiate themselves from others swimming around in the indie folk pool is no easy task. And at times on Tonight is the Ghost, Hurricane Bells almost lose their folk credibility completely. But then I remember tracks like the album opener, “This Year.” The Bon Iver-like opening vocals juxtaposed with a haunting acoustic guitar will send chills down your spine. Also, Schiltz’s sweet vocals and taunting electric guitar invocation toward the end of the song add something a little extra and unexpected.

Is it the second coming of Grizzly Bear? How about an (impossibly) moodier Noah and The Whale? Nope, it is neither. Hurricane Bells set the bar pretty damn high on the opening track, but leave enough room for some creativity to flourish. And Schiltz piles on the creativity high on the other chapters of his debut, especially “I Can’t Remember,” which has a more relaxed, less structured format. The faint tinkling of backing keys, wash of drums, and very light acoustic samplings mesh well with Schiltz’s intricate vocals to create something that sounds eerily similar to Wayne Coyne’s vocal and guitar work.

On “Tenterhooks,” I have to question if I am still listening to an album, or if I have been transported to the front porch of a remote country home on a balmy summer evening. The cricket noises in the beginning are a unique opening to this instrumental track. If nothing else, this song is a strong example of Steve Schiltz’s fine musicianship and capabilities. It explores his talents as a guitarist, while utilizing the inflection of keys and relying heavily on the backing drums.

Perhaps one of my favorite songs on the record is “Freezing Rain,” which has a strong Americana vibe, featuring both acoustic and twangy guitars supported by Schiltz’s incomparable, strangely beautiful vocals. He cautions, “Lover, who you want, now, you don’t know if he’s good enough,” allowing for the themes of caution and love to resonate throughout. He visits similar themes on the dark, almost heartbreaking “Tonight I’m Going to Be a Shooting Star.”

Overall, Steve Schiltz’s solo debut is a delicious blend of indie folk and pop. It is rather short—ten tracks clocking in at just over half an hour—but luckily for skeptics, Schiltz’s talents as a songwriter and guitarist work to his distinct advantage. Ultimately, Hurricane Bells debut is a work that some may consider relevant to Grizzly Bear and Noah and The Whale. However, do not be fooled; Hurricane Bells is something new for the indie folk pop scene. Schiltz creates an album that has more inflection than Noah and The Whale and less of a 1960s sonic style than Grizzly Bear, while still forging a totally unique path. Just give Tonight is the Ghost a thorough listen and you might just find yourself convinced.

Track List:
1. This Year (4:33)
2. This Is A Test (2:24)
3. I Can’t Remember (3:47)
4. Tonight I’m Going To Be Like A Shooting Star (4:07)
5. Darkness Is So Deep (3:03)
6. Crocodile (1:21)
7. Freezing Rain (3:22)
8. The Winters In New York (2:48)
9. The Cold Has Killed Us (4:19)
10. Tenterhooks (3:46)