Rosetta West have always operated in the space where blues, psychedelia, and world folk music converge, crafting sonic landscapes that feel timeless and otherworldly. With ‘Night’s Cross’, the Illinois-based outfit deepen their signature sound, offering a record that leans heavier, darker, and more contemplative than its predecessor ‘Labyrinth’. While their previous album explored intricate musical passages with moments of lightness, ‘Night’s Cross’ embraces a weightier atmosphere, an unflinching meditation on mortality and the mysteries that lie beyond.
Led by Joseph Demagore (vocals, guitar, keyboards), the band remains a powerhouse of raw, immersive storytelling. Jason X, handling bass, additional keys, and co-production duties, brings a brooding depth to the mix, while Nathan Q. Scratch anchors the album with dynamic, driving percussion. Recorded in a rural home studio in Illinois, the album possesses a powerfully grand feel, as if each track were conjured in secret, meant to be unearthed by those searching for something deeper.
Musically, ‘Night’s Cross’ builds upon Rosetta West’s blues-rock foundation but pushes further into the hypnotic and the mystical in songs like ‘Dora Lee’ and ‘You’ll Be The Death Of Me’. Swirling organ tones, searing guitar solos, and haunting vocal lines create a sense of journeying through shadowed corridors, seeking truth in the unknown. While the contemplation of death is a recurring theme, the album never succumbs to despair. Instead, it channels the resilience of classic blues, the transcendence of psychedelia, and the spiritual depth of folk traditions, forging a sound that embraces life’s heaviest questions without fear.
Rosetta West have spent years cultivating an underground following, remaining steadfastly independent. Their discography is a treasure trove for all those who seek it out. ‘Night’s Cross’ is yet another testament to their uncompromising artistic vision, proving that even in the shadows, there is light to be found, if only you’re willing to look for it.
