Reviewed by Ewan Jones

Starflyer 59 have always been one of those ever-adapting, hard to define - and sometimes hard to love - rock bands. The Tooth & Nail stalwarts mix hard rock with experimental elements, Bowie vocal styling and Joy Division like synth, loops and electronic beats. This compilation pulls together a number of recent EPs that the band have put out in the last few years. Opener "Automatic" kicks off with a strong bass groove and a mournful violin but sets the tone for a band that create atmosphere but (with the exception of "Black Jacket" and one or two others) never really get as far as rocking out. The songs tend to have mid-tempo grooves that sustain, build up and fade as if they had nowhere left to go. Highlights, and there are a few of them over these 25 tracks, include the remix of "Pearl Of Great Price"; an acoustic version of "Mr Martin"; the funky spaghetti western of instrumental "Spooky"; and a cover of Bread's "Guitar Man". As an album 'Ghosts Of The Past' makes for an inconsistent listen where occasional touches of genius rub shoulders with the undeniably tedious. Fans of Nick Cave, Interpol and the darker side of music may find something to tickle their ears here.

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