The ethereal goth supergroup returns with Halo Star, their ninth studio album. True to form, Halo Star isn’t just a collection of swirling music, there is a greater esoteric and aesthetic world held in the balance. The songs on Halo Star tell the story of a musician who has fallen from grace; the lyrics detail what it means to be seen, to be needed, to be loved, and to be forgotten. Though the story is slowly unveiled and never really opaque, there are enough moments of startling ingenuity to keep the vague plot moving along inside your mind. The shorter song structures that Black Tape for a Blue Girl adopted on The Scavenger Bride album also help to keep the pace from becoming too languorous. Black Tape for a Blue Girl continues to push the envelope of what comprises “goth” music: guitar, violin, drums, electronics, bass, flute, Moog, dumbek, mandolin, dulcimer, piano, and various percussion are all utilized in the pursuit of eclecticism. Bret Helm and Elysbeth Grant’s vocals are in fine form, yet never dominate or overpower all the other elements of the composition. A remarkable achievement, full of ideas to keep you wondering. Think of this as the ethereal answer to Ziggy Stardust.

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