Review: Big Red Machine's latest 'The Ghost of Cincinnati'

: by Rob Costa; in Reviews; on 15 July 2021

One person, an acoustic guitar and a capo. This is quintessential folk/Americana at its best.

From the very first strum of his guitar, you know Aaron Dessner is going to take you on a journey. With his understated, gentle vocal style, Dessner compels you into the story and you instantly want to hear more and find out where he will take you.

The song has a really nice flow to it, and one could argue it doesn’t quite follow the standard verse, chorus, verse, chorus format. Instead, The Ghost of Cincinnati features several subtle hooks woven into the structure and repeated throughout. This works really well, because it doesn’t detract from the story, which is the main point of the song.

The stand out hook for me, is the lyrical line” I’m over myself, I’m over the hill, I’m over the Rhine, for the millionth time”.

Lyrically, The Ghost of Cincinnati explores themes of emptiness & alienation. As Dressner puts it on his own Instagram page “ It’s about someone who feels like a ghost, stalking the streets of their hometown, interrogating the past, and contemplating their fate- something that I can deeply relate to”.

Musically, the acoustic guitar with the capo way up high on the 5th fret creates an interesting backdrop to the story. Even though the chords are strummed with a fast pace, and the chords are played way up high, almost emulating a ukulele type feel, Dressner manages to create a chilled out vibe, which is a credit to his musicianship.

Big Red Machine have woven a rich tapestry, which unfolds invoking imagery with every word sung and chord strummed. I dare you to close your eyes and listen to it, pull on the string and see where it takes you.

I would love to hear this song placed in film, because it does such a great job telling a story.

You’ll find The Ghost Of Cincinnati on Big Red Machine’s new album titled “ How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last “ set for release this August.