Time for a brand new Halloween Song Profile.
Sonic45 has been known to set troubling lyrics to irresistible new-wave arrangements, so it’s not surprising to find “The Phantom” (track ten) on the Chicago-based band’s recently released second album SuperSonic. Likewise, I sometimes stretch the boundaries of what qualifies as a Halloween song, but make no mistake, “The Phantom” is the real deal. Some might suspect bassist-songwriter Len Kasper intends this tale of a creature who returns frequently but always unexpectedly has a political undercurrent. Or maybe it’s just about a carnivorous monster with invisible hands.
Following an extended and ominous instrumental intro, lead vocalist Matt Spiegel warns, “The world’s not as safe as you’d like it to be.” The mystery deepens with the lines, “Don’t know him now; didn’t know him then./There’s no telling how The Phantom shows again.” There’s a definite need to stay awake in order to survive. “If you don’t believe the Phantom is real, don’t close your eyes you will be his next meal.” Just like the ending of so many horror films, this song suggests we’ll never be rid of this menace. “I swear on my heart, The Phantom will come again.”
Sonic45 has a gig coming up at the Hey Nonny venue in Arlington Heights on November 24. In addition to Kasper and Spiegel, the band includes the likewise well-known members Liam Davis, Gerald Dowd, and Dag Juhlin.
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