Rosetta West, an Illinois-based group, weaves bluesy grit with mysterious psychedelic textures and global folk influences. Their songwriting often delves into esoteric realms, exploring the unseen and the unheard of.
Their latest offering, Night’s Cross, came to life in a home studio hidden in the Illinois countryside. A successor to last year’s acclaimed Labyrinth, this new record treads familiar sonic ground but with a heavier step. Themes of mortality echo throughout, shaping a collection that carries more weight and bite than its predecessor. While Labyrinth occasionally drifted into brighter spaces, Night’s Cross embraces shadow without sinking into gloom—more stormy sky than funeral march.

Aside from a singular collaboration with Alive Records, Rosetta West has spent years forging its own path outside the mainstream. Let's listen to "Night's Cross" and see where this path has lead them.

The album starts with the lively Save Me that marries blues, country and rock-n-roll. However, I had some unexpected musical associations. The composition reminded me of Tuvan folk music with its rhythm mimicking the tempo, sound and feel of horse riding, just like on Save Me (even though the character's horse is now made of steel rather than flesh). Moreover, Joseph Demagore's deep vocals have a vibe similar to the Tuvan throat singing style kargyraa.

"Suzie" has a beautiful melody handled both by the vocals and the guitar, which makes it even more memorable. It's a story of a troubled girl who had diamonds in her eyes and parents issues. However, she knew a thing or two about curing her troubles with pleasure together with the narrator, and probably that's why the melodies on the song are so joyful.

The narrartor has had more female friends, including Dora Lee who disappeared quickly but left a deep scar ("all of my lifetime was fit in a day") and Diana – a source of light in the darkest of ages. The songs named after these two goddesses of love are very different. Dora Lee inspired a groovy riff-based banger, while Diana – a slow and mysterious ballad with psychedelic textures played by a band of shamans and snake-charmers. And then there's "You'll Be the Death of Me" situated exactly in the middle between those songs on the musical map. It's also devoted to Dora Lee – maybe she did come back. Or maybe it's her namesake.

"Alligator Farm" feels like a fun song, both musically and lyrically. But it has a stamp of darkness and desperation that you just can't ignore. The narrator lives and works among alligators, his days and nights are both scary and boring, except for the hours he spends making love in the mud with some supernatural Queen of reptiles. Whether it's a metaphor or not, it can raise your hairs, despite the fun and lively music.

A dark and mysterious "Cold Winter Moon" is adorned by beautiful full-sounding acoustic guitars. The narrator confesses: "Everywhere I look I see unfriendly eyes". Maybe these are the eyes of alligators from the previous song. The woman who has a chance of saving him from death, darkness, boredom and probably hungry reptiles is called Mary, which makes the song's effect even deeper due to the Biblical associations.

"Desperation" sounds unexpected even by the album's standards. It's not a rock song, it's pure ritual music, dark, deep, textural and carried by the hyptnotizing rhythm of earth-shaking drums.

"Oh Death" has lyrical interpolations with "Cold Winter Moon", but it has a much lighter touch, serving as morning to the other song's night.

"Ready To Go" continues the heavy topic of meeting one's death. It feels like it aims at reaching the supernatural, due to the mantra-like vocal part and the addition of synthetic pads, adding an extra-dimension to the acoustic-based arrangement.

After the deep and heavy material "Baby Doll" brings back raw and unconstrained rock-n-roll: "I don’t have to tell you what a train wreck this is going to be. I don’t have to tell you ‘cause it’s there for everyone to see." But the train wreck doesn't happen: the album ends on a hopeful note with "Underground Again". Its stripped down production and powerful vocals bring the feeling of relief and satisfaction after the album's crazy rollercoaster ride – from alligator farms to pretty babies' arms, from winding roads and dangerous hoods to shamans' fires in the deepest of woods. The album's stories were so inspiring that we unexpectedly started writing poetry about them... Go and listen to "Night's Cross" yourself, and you will discover even more bright visions and scary truths, love letters and talks with death, desperation and inspiration, and God knows what else.