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When I interviewed Bruce Soord about Ghosts in the Park, one moment particularly stayed with me.
We had spent almost an hour discussing grief, memory, family and how music can help us process emotions that are often impossible to put into words. But towards the end of the interview Bruce quietly mentioned something that surprised me.
He said he wished more people could hear the piano versions included in the Deluxe Mediabook.
That single comment persuaded me to seek out the special edition.
I’m so pleased I did.
More Than a Deluxe Edition
I’ve always loved the original album.
It’s one of the most emotionally affecting records I’ve heard in years, and after talking with Bruce about the inspiration behind it, I appreciated it even more. During our interview he explained:
“I wanted to try and share what I was going through, knowing that practically everyone has to go through similar things.”
That honesty is woven into every note of Ghosts in the Park.
But this Deluxe Mediabook doesn’t simply add bonus material.
It deepens the experience.
The Book Brings Bruce’s Story Into Focus
This beautifully produced hardback Mediabook immediately feels like an object worth owning rather than simply another way of buying the music.
The family photographs carry enormous emotional weight.
Many of us of a certain age have similar faded photographs tucked away in lofts, drawers or old shoeboxes. Looking through Bruce’s own family archive while listening to these songs makes everything feel even more personal.
These aren’t stock images.
They’re moments from Bruce’s own life.
During our interview Bruce spoke about wanting to remember the father he knew before Alzheimer’s changed him.
“I wanted to remember the father that I had when I was a child.”
Looking through these photographs while hearing those songs creates an emotional connection that the standard album simply can’t replicate.
The Piano Versions Are Extraordinary
Bruce wasn’t exaggerating.
The piano interpretations by Gleb Kolyadin are breathtaking.
Rather than simply replaying the songs, Kolyadin completely reimagines them.
Sue happened to be in the room when I first played them and immediately asked:
“Who’s playing piano?”
The performances have enormous sensitivity, allowing Bruce’s vocals to become even more exposed.
They’re intimate without becoming sentimental. Beautiful without becoming overly dramatic. After hearing them I completely understood why Bruce hoped more listeners would discover them.
Acoustic Ghosts Feels Like Bruce Is Sitting Opposite You
The acoustic versions create another entirely different experience. It’s almost as though Bruce has walked into your living room, picked up an acoustic guitar and started singing directly to you. The arrangements become even more fragile.
Instead of reducing the emotional impact, stripping everything back somehow makes the songs even stronger.
Dolby Atmos Adds Another Emotional Dimension
Anyone who follows Now Spinning Magazine will already know how much I value well-produced Dolby Atmos mixes.
Ghosts in the Park is another reminder of why.
As I listened, memories of losing my own mother surfaced naturally.
Music is the healer and the doctor.
I don’t think I’ve reviewed many albums where that statement feels more appropriate.
Ghosts in the Park isn’t simply about grief. It’s about memory. About preserving those we love before time slowly erodes the details. About finding comfort rather than despair.
And this Deluxe Mediabook presents that journey in the richest possible way.
The original album.
The remarkable piano interpretations.
The intimate acoustic performances.
A stunning Dolby Atmos mix.
A beautifully produced hardback book filled with photographs and context that make Bruce’s story even more powerful.
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Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
