LONESOME WYATT AND THE HOLY SPOOKS: Longing For Oblivion

Release year: 2023
Label: Tribulation Recording Company

As I mentioned in my review of Those Poor Bastard’s God Awful (here), it’s been a long while since Lonesome Wyatt has done anything that’s impressed me either under that monicker or with Lonesome Wyatt And The Holy Spooks. As such, I wasn’t expecting much when I put this – his umpteenth album under those two names – into the player for the first time.

Despite my current cynicism, there was a time when it seemed like Lonesome Wyatt could do no wrong, and everything he did was worth the time of day. That is the reason I keep returning to his works, and continue buying up basically everything he releases. In the hope that he’ll strike gold once more.

And by jove, here we are. Longing For Oblivion quite definitely is that album.

The first listen didn’t convince me much. It seemed like yet another trite album of the same old gothically gloomy country/folk. I suppose that in hindsight I’ve developed a bit of a tendency to write off the man’s newer albums quite rapidly… and honestly, this is the first time in a long while I’ve had to reconsider. But now I do – and I couldn’t be happier to.

True, this is still the same old gothic, gloomy country/folk, with the same darkly, wryly humorous lyrics and Lonesome Wyatt’s charismatic vocals. But things just click. The songs are better, the addition of well used female backing vocals add a lot of depth, the lyrics aren’t quite as caricature as they’ve been on some other recent albums. In one word, the album feels inspired – for the first time in a long while for Lonesome Wyatt.

The pick of the litter is album closer No More Songs, a cover of the old Phil Ochs song; Wyatt’s rendition is impressively forlorn, melancholy and haunted. I kid you not, this one has quickly risen to become a favourite of mine in the Holy Spooks songbook. But it’s not just the covers. Counting is an infectuously catchy, macabre but fun little ditty about trusting loved ones; Eternal Doubt is a classic Lonesome Wyatt penned tune with tribulation, supernatural elements and a bit of black humour; Loneliness Remains is a funereal dirge with apocalyptic imagery entwined with personal tragedy; and finally, title track Longing For Oblivion is a cheery melody about loss and woe.

For those familiar with Lonesome Wyatt’s music, the above descriptions will immediately sound familiar. And, to reiterate what I said above, this album does not break new ground. It’s still the same gothic folk/country leaning heavily on acoustic guitar, piano, the occasional dragging drum beat and sparse electronic instrumentation. The sound is defined by Wyatt’s voice, which is in fine form as always. But it’s got that elusive something.

In a nutshell, this is one of those albums which makes a somewhat jaded long-time fan feel vindicated. We didn’t give up hope, we struggled through the drought, and reached a verdant pasture. I just hope this isn’t a one-off thing, but that other forthcoming albums – I’m sure we’re looking on at least one album next year – will continue on this upward trajectory.

Visit Lonesome Wyatt And The Holy Spooks on their Bandcamp or Facebook