Various - Ghost Riders | Efficient Space (ES022)

Discover the soul of a North American coming-of-age garage journey with "Ghost Riders" from Efficient Space. This 2LP repress comes with printed inner sleeves and a tracklist featuring 17 heartfelt ballads recorded between 1965 and 1974. The compilation paints a vivid portrait of dreamers who were caught up in the allure of rock 'n' roll, driven by local newspaper ads promising fame and gold records.

From the dreamy notes of The Mod 4 to the poetic Farfisa vibes of The Yardleys and the emotional break-up blues of The Landlords, these are the stories of hopeful talents who had a brief brush with stardom before returning to suburban reality. Hailing from diverse regions across America, these artists were often discovered through unconventional means, making their contributions all the more poignant.

One standout is the barely teenage Dennis Harte with "Summer's Over," a gut-wrenching lament that encapsulates the collection's essence. Ghost Riders captures the scent of youthful summers, the pangs of schoolyard romance, and the rollercoaster of teenage emotions, all delivered with a deceptively simple and delightfully wonky garage band aesthetic.

Curated by record collector and graphic designer Ivan Liechti, this compilation showcases a nostalgic slice of American musical history, with audio restoration by Colin Young and original artwork by Elise Gagnebin-de Bons. Sonic Boom provides an insightful foreword to this captivating release.