Album Review

Phantom Limb – Gravy Train

• 10th Mar 2012

Gravy Train is a rich, country tinged song that marries complex layers of instrumentation with the wonderful voice of Yolanda Quartey. The single version is slightly shorter than the four minute album track from the band’s superb recent release The Pines, but it loses none of its quality in this edit.

Lyrically it follows the escape theme from much of the album, and displays a world weariness that leads the singer to conclude that “Whatever don’t kill you slowly is bound to set you free”, as she seek to jump off the Gravy Train. Yet the song is still stirring and defiant, the sighs turning to a more up tempo conclusion.

Gravy Train demonstrates exactly why Phantom Limb deserve much more attention than they currently get from the media. They have musical talent aplenty and one of the best voices around in Quartey. And their songs have a lyrical and instrumental depth that is lacking in so many others.

But don’t just take my word for it. Buy the single. And if you do, I’m pretty sure you will want to buy the album too.