Band Of Horses - Cease To Exist (Sub Pop, 2007)

With just fourteen words and a stadium-ready guitar riff, Ben Bridwell (leadsinger of Band Of Horses) has written one of the year's stand-out tracks, with the opening number of Cease To Exist: Is There A Ghost. Having established themselves as one of the better bands on the planet with their first album - 2006's Everything All The Time - Band Of Horses have built a devout following trhough steady touring and excellent songs. One needn't look any further than tracks such as The Funeral or the beautiful St. Augustine from their debut album, to realize that Bridwell is a songwriter with immense talent.
With Cease To Exist, Band Of Horses - who had relocated from Seattle to back their home in South Carolina after touring for Everything All The Time - have delivered an album that pays homage to their southern roots, without sounding in any way dated. Along with the aforementioned opening track, Ode To LRC and Cigarettes, Wedding Bands keep the rock quotient high, while slower numbers such as Marry Song and the countrified-stomp of The General Specific, exemplify the band's ability to slow things down without losing any momentum.
In recent interviews, Bridwell has spoken of the happiness he has found in to his hometown, the joy that has come from the love of a good woman, and his affection for good melodies. All three of these elements are reflected keenly on Cease To Exist, and as Bridwell comes across as an extremely likeable southern gentleman, you can hope for nothing but success for his Band Of Horses.

Check Out: www.myspace.com/bandofhorses

Sounds A Bit Like: Neil Young; Dinosaur Jr strumming away outside on a warm summer evening, watching the light slowly fade.