Belfast singer-songwriter releases solo album

Having two kids is an excellent reason that Andrew Luckless didn’t release a solo album for eight years. Also acceptable would be “I’m in another band,” “I’m recording other people,” and “I wasn’t ready yet.” All of which are also true.
Whichever the reason, Luckless’ new album, “2 Ghosts in Gravy,” which came out this month, was well worth the wait. The Belfast-based singer-songwriter may have taken nearly a decade writing and recording the 13 songs that make up the album, but the hard work and thoughtful artistry shine through in every track.
Raising his two daughters, performing in the Waldo County indie punk band Full Contact Kitty and recording Maine bands such as Uke of Spaces and Dead End Armory have taken up much of his time in recent years. Luckless felt like it just wasn’t the time to focus on his own solo career.
“I felt like what I was doing wasn’t going anywhere, and wasn’t an improvement on anything else I’d done,” he said. “I am a little obsessed with my overall statement as a musician, and I didn’t want to just put something out that I felt was substandard.”
Luckless’ previous five albums began in 1995, with “Molecular,” and extend to 2002, with the strange but oddly appealing concept album “The Werewolf Album.” A Boston native, Luckless has made his home in Maine since 1995, first in Portland, and since 2003 in Belfast. In Belfast, he has built a home studio that is his prize, and has been a sought-after recording destination for bands and solo acts alike.
From 2007 until 2009, Luckless played in Full Contact Kitty, though he has since left the band to focus on his own songwriting. On all five of his solo albums, Luckless proves himself to be an intelligent, slightly surreal songwriter, with the warped worldview of psychedelic folksinger Robyn Hitchcock, tempered by an adventurous musicality and sense of humor akin to that of Beck or Ween.
“As a kid, it was definitely people like Dylan and Prince and Marc Bolan [of T. Rex] that were my heroes,” said Luckless. “Now I don’t really think I’m specifically influenced by them, but I learn from their lessons.”
“2 Ghosts in Gravy” in many ways picks up where Luckless left off in 2002, musically speaking, anyway. Where it differs is in its sense of overall maturity — he’s had a lot of time to perfect these songs, and to explore different avenues, lyrically. The energetic punk folk of the first track, “Our Plaything” showcases Luckless’ sonorous baritone, before moving on to other prime cuts off the album, like the enjoyably jangly “No Recipe” and “Brown Beetle” and the excellently arranged harmonies of “2Fish.”
“This was a much less slapdash effort than other albums,” he said. “I had plenty of time to devote to all the songs, and to recording. I spent most of 2010 working on it, so it was really great to have my studio all to myself. It was a relief.”
“2 Ghosts in Gravy” came out Jan. 1, and is available in a limited edition that features a tin case handmade by Luckless himself. It also is available for download on Amazon.com and iTunes, and by name-your-price service Artist Direct, available through the link on Luckless’ website, luckless.net.
No live shows are planned yet, but Luckless is looking for intimate venues that would host him.
“I like playing smaller shows. In fact, it’s been at least three years since I’ve played a solo gig,” he said. “I’d like to change that. It’s been a long time since I’ve done any of this.”