Ghost Of The Beast

Once in a great while, a voice comes along that turns a casual bystander into a listener. It interrupts bar conversations, turns heads, and convinces the room to pay attention because this singer certainly has something unique to say. Kelli Schaefer is a hurricane. In fact, Schaefer might identify more with early punk music than with current Portland neo-folkies. Still, she leaves some room for beauty and patience - and this dichotomy is evident through the 42 minutes of her debut full-length release Ghost of the Beast. It's rock music that encourages deep concentration as much as it does a slow roll of your hips; pop music that leaves a bittersweet aftertaste; folk music meant for a dark nightclub instead of your local coffeehouse.