Jackie Leven, Oh what a blow that phantom dealt me!

Leven lives from music and releases at least one album a year, each with a reason to exist. This one, however, is not one of his best: eleven songs about forgotten ghosts (Judee Sill, Kevin Coyne, Kenneth Patchen, acquaintances from touring), with Johnny Dowd, David Wrench (production), Michael Cosgrave and Leon Hunt; “Mellow My Madness” is dedicated to an initiative for the mentally ill (with DJ Unfit For Work). Really strong pieces are missing. Verdict: lukewarm.