The latest issue (#228) of Rue Morgue magazine includes a fantastic review of my Phantom Lightkeeper album “Shore Ghosts” and is on stands now. Aaron Von Lupton did a lovely write-up on the release, which is included below. This is a tremendous honor compounded by articles spotlighting other projects of mine as well, one being Mike Gingold’s full-page endorsement of Umbrella’s TOURIST TRAP set that I helmed, and another being the inclusion of Umbrella’s FREAKED set (that I also worked on) in the mag’s year in review section where it was named most welcome reissue. Lots to devour in Rue Morgue #228, and you can pick it up at your local bookstore or via Rue’s website HERE. You can also check out my conversation with Aaron about the album on Rue’s YouTube channel HERE. Thanks to Aaron and Rue Morgue!
PHANTOM LIGHTKEEPER
Shore Ghosts
Reverend Releasing
Review by Aaron Von Lupton
From Justin Beahm (best known for producing special features and documentaries on physical media releases from Arrow, Shout Factory, and Paramount) comes his first musical foray – a spooky surf rock album released under the nom de plume Phantom Lightkeeper. Not exactly traditional surf, Shore Ghosts combines classic reverb with heavy metal flourishes and horror movie atmospherics. Along the way, Beahm pays tribute to Link Wray (on “Sundance”) and gives new life to John Carpenter’s “Halloween Theme” (on “All Hallow’s Eve”). “Funeral At Sea” is a sombre affair filtered through surf grinder and background effects, while “Siren” evokes spaghetti western vibes, and “Orchid” sounds like Black Sabbath doing surf, with plenty of grungy riffs and eerie atmosphere. Populated by the ghostly echoes of lost horror films and the vanished people who once marvelled at them, Shore Ghosts feels like a fading memory that will never truly vanish. 💀💀💀1/2
