GHOSTS I - IV

Nine Inch Nails: Trent Reznor. Personnel: Alessandro Cortini (guitar, dulcimer, electronics); Adrian Belew (guitar, marimba, electronics); Brian Viglione (drums); Atticus Ross (programming). Audio Mixer: Alan Moulder. Recording information: 2007. Photographers: Tamar Levine; Rob Sheridan. Arranger: Atticus Ross. Released independently for online download without any advanced notice in March 2008, GHOSTS I-IV is a 36-track instrumental album that reveals Nine Inch Nails at its most experimental and intriguing. Always adept at musical moods and textures, NIN mastermind Trent Reznor has been known to let his angst-ridden vocals and lyrics overshadow his songs, but on this generous collection, which follows YEAR ZERO by less than 12 months, his compositions are allowed to breath on their own, and the results are disarmingly diverse, though, naturally, never exceedingly sunny. Working closely with co-producer/songwriter Atticus Ross and frequently calling upon guitarists Adrian Belew (King Crimson) and Alessandro Cortini, Reznor treats GHOSTS as a score to some dark imaginary David Lynch-like film (in fact, the two auteurs collaborated on LOST HIGHWAY). While some tracks trade in Reznor's signature moody techno sound ("3 Ghosts I"), others mix acoustic-guitar strumming with burst of industrial noise (the subsequent "4 Ghosts I"). Elsewhere, Reznor employs dulcimer ("22 Ghosts III") and marimba ("30 Ghosts IV"), letting an unusually organic aesthetic creep in. Challenging but never inaccessible, GHOSTS I-IV is the work of a mature artist operating in a compelling creative zone.

• Genre: Pop
• RSD Date: n/a
• Format: CD
• Released: 04/08/2008