Jack Sobel, Mark Burgess, Jimmy Oakes, Andy Whitaker, Andy Clegg,
John Kolbeck, Kwasi Asante, Yves Altana, Achim Faerber
Influences
Joy Division, The Chameleons UK, Bauhaus, Red House Painters, New Fast Automatic Daffodils, Stone Roses, The Verve, Echo and the Bunnymen, Beatles, Smiths, Rob Dickinson, Catherine Wheel, The Doors, Kitchens Of Distinction, Paul Weller, Cat Stevens, Dead Can Dance, The Fall
Sounds Like
A Long Way From Home Album Review:
More than a fantastic recording , even a bit magical, this one transports us to other times during its 79 minutes.
Black Swan Lane is a recent project that joins members of the Chameleons, Sun and the Moon, the Messengers and more than a few persons, where the presence of the vocalist Mark Burgess of the Chamaleones is just an example. Even the inspiration for this recording comes exactly from the sensations that many of its elements lived through when listening to recordings of the above-mentioned projects when they were newer.
We definitely have here a very peculiar work, in a recording that distinguishes itself for its calm registry, in which as much the melancholy for times gone by, as the acceptance of the present, go through my head. As such, don’t expect moving moments here, more so without compositions where a certain guitar sound, many times acoustic, has a preponderant role, as well as the voices with grave registries, monochord, limpid, or dragged, depending on the themes.
Apart from two instances where one of the guests goes into a vocalization “ragga” that clashes with the balance of the recording, it’s really complicated to highlight the many excellent themes, since the whole makes for a very cohesive group. By the same token, What You Dream (which you can hear in the band’s “my space,” got under my skin and immediately got me hooked when combined with themes like the melancholic Nothing with a magical guitar ending, Another You (fantastic), She’s in Love and many others.
The discovery of this recording and project arises, as it has with the Pela, Dragons and other projects, due to the online Dutch shop called Red Sun Records (http://www.redsunrecords.com), that focuses on musical groups of certain sound quality, each week things appearing that I’ve never heard of. Furthermore, the shop has an excellent feature, which is a synopsis of each recording, samples of some tracks and even similar groups, which causes an avalanche effect which is not a good thing for our wallet.
Up to date, this is one of the most magical recordings (here we have this word again in this text) that I had the pleasure of listening this year of 2007.
For those who want to listen to some tracks, including some new ones included in this album which just came out, a visit to the “myspace” of this band is highly recommended: http://www.myspace.com/blackswanlane
This recording is a wonder. (happy face)
Posted by Azelpds Labels: L.A.Y.E.R
For all Black Swan Lane albums and merchandise, go to
www.blackswanlane.com
Black Swan Lane was founded in 2006 by Jack Sobel and John Kolbeck of The Messengers who had the pleasure of playing live with Mark Burgess of The Chameleons UK. Soon after, the album, A Long Way From Home, was released and was reviewed with high marks. It was a project made up with several other members including Yves Altana, Achim Faerber, Anna Lynn Williams & Kwasi Asante.
In November of 2008, Sobel joined the original members of the Post Punk band, The Sun and the Moon to play the first US date. Before and after the concert, some magic happened and Black Swan Lane will be releasing a new 18 track album in early 2009 entitled The Sun and the Moon Sessions. Featured on the new album are band members: Mark Burgess, Jack Sobel, Andy Clegg, Andy Whitaker, Kwasi Asante, John Kolbeck & Jimmy Oakes.
NEW ALBUM OUT NOW. GET YOUR COPY BY GOING TO WWW.BLACKSWANLANE.COM
20 NEW TRACKS BY BLACK SWAN LANE
"THE SUN AND THE MOON SESSIONS"
Hello There! I really enjoy your music, and I hope that you like mine as well. I would love it if you could check out the widget on my page and listen to my song - Window, Window - as many times as you like. I'm only asking because I entered the Myspace Records Unsigned Artists Competition, and I would love to have as many plays as possible. Thanks a lot!!
Hi Jack! Got my copy today - brilliant!! Stand out tracks are Lie Still, Heard Her Scream and Age End. Anyone reading this should just buy it now!! Any plans to re-group over in the UK?? Cheers for an amazing record Neil
FatalObject est un projet de cœur né de l’association de plusieurs
personnes désireuses de supporter des artistes aux influences musicales
multiples. Projet de label indépendant, FatalObject a pour but de permettre à
des artistes de s'autoproduire et de se promouvoir.
FatalObject is a project of heart, arisen from the association of several
persons avid to support artists in the multiple musical influences. As an
independent label, FatalObject aims at allowing artists of selfproduction and
promotion.
Hi, when the CD arrived and I put in our player it was strange to listen to a new album, which we already knew. But we still like it and some of the songs are different than here at myspace. It is a fantastic album again and we like it, just sit in our garden and listen to your music. It is such a fulfilled feeling. After 3 years of travelling we try to settle down now and with such a beautiful music it is much easier. This is the soundtrack of the summer, probably the summer of our life.
Hi! Almost unbelievable, but a band from Lübeck could become Myspace Featured Artist this week! How? Simply vote with two mouse clicks until June 11th on www.myspace.com/myspacebandradar
Hi Jack, I only just played the new album 5 times today (first play at 5.30 am). My initial impression is it's a really cool, laid back chill-out album. Definate quality in depth, I'm waiting to see which tracks emerge for me as long time favourites.
But I'm really pleased I bought it, it came to me in the UK very quickly and it's a brilliant "summer" album, 2009 is gonna be the richer for it. Thanks very much.
Online Now!
