Most fables begin with ‘Once upon a time…’. Ours begins with ‘Twice’. Twice upon a time there was a project called Black Swan Lane (for this is the second BSL album, this time named after the legendary Sun and The Moon). Twice now that notorious band has existed, rising from the ashes of the even more legendary Chameleons. Twice now The Chameleons have split in two – rent, seemingly beyond hope of repair, because of personal issues.

Before we go further, let’s remind ourselves; this is not a Sun and The Moon album review.
This is not The Sun and The Moon
This is Black Swan Lane.

This is quite wonderful.

I’m reminded of how Jah Wobble (dub bassist and founder of Public Image Ltd) used to fall asleep listening to the stars. (He’d playback ultra low oscillations originating from sunspots). There’s plenty of starlight here. Guitars twinkle like one of those night skies. You know, when the more you look, the more faraway stars seem to appear. Eventually you feel like you’re going to fall upwards, into it. And it’s awesome.

So why call it “The Sun and the Moon Sessions”? Simply this, The Sun And The Moon (band) reformed in 2008 for a handful of one-off dates. One such date was Atlanta, home to Jack Sobel, former Messenger and ringleader of BSL. And of course there are overlaps galore, TSATM being half-comprised of former Chameleons, as are BSL. So the scene was set for one stellar jam session – friends reunited in Atlanta GA.

I was a big admirer of the first BSL opus but TSATM sessions eclipses its older brother. Writing, playing and vocal duties are shared, like before, by seven or so key contributors, giving that essential texture and variety. For example, busked acoustics give way to Merseybeat which in turn gives way to signature BSL dreampop via an instrumental. (That’s just four of the first five tracks) Yet everything comes back to Sobel. He’s at the helm. His direction and production provide the continuity and identity.

TSATM sessions is a misleading title. The previous release was more session-like, many of its tracks coming across like extended segues. This is a full album. A double really and despite its length (Twenty tracks, 75+ mins) it knits together really well. If you buy both BSL albums you have more music than many box sets.

If you buy both, you’ll be staying in a lot over the next days and weeks.

And months.

There’s no great overture on here though. (There had to be something holding it back from perfection). Everything ranges from gentle to jaunty. No ‘smack you in the face’, ‘Don’t Fall’-like opener. No climactic finale either although ‘Age End’ clearly IS “good enough to be the last”. And if I’m allowed one other gripe:_ Kwasi Asante singing lead vocals only once??? Why? Asante has a golden soul and pipes to match.
At least his ‘Mother Nature’ is one of the albums clear highlights. Another is the Burgess vehicle ‘Weigh It Down’. Some of the lyrics will undoubtedly resonate with existing followers. Me I prefer the sound of it. I’ve always been like that. I appreciate lyrics but I’ll only notice them if the music has already caught my attention, as this record has with its beautiful, chiming, chorus-effected guitars. But the strings aren’t the only stars. Sobels ‘inhale/exhale’ vocals sum up the record for me – the perfect safe refuge for the world-weary.

BSL are a wonderful collective at the height of their powers. Sun plus Moon = twice the light.

Twice the love.
sic magazine / brett spaceman
http://www.sicmagazine.net/articles/292/black-swan-lane-the-
sun-and-the-moon-sessions

black swan lane

the sun and the moon sessions : an auto discography by jack richard sobel

Twenty new recordings by:

Jack Sobel, Mark Burgess, Andy Whitaker, John Kolbeck, Andy Clegg, Jimmy Oakes,Kwasi Asante

“The sun and the moon sessions,” the newest album by Black Swan Lane, will be released June 1, 2009 and will have a total of 20 new recordings on it. Jack and Mark started the recordings off in early 2008 and it was originally to be titled “dead.” It was to be an album that expressed a sense of finality, doom and an end. However, after the two Andys (Andy Whitaker and Andy Clegg of The Sun and the Moon / Kizolek/ The Midlife Dementia Show) joined the band after a one off Sun and the Moon show in the states, the atmosphere of the album changed. It brightened and soothed the senses. The album now traveled between up and down & light and dark. There was an enormous sense of love that surrounded the room during the final days of recordings….laughs, smiles and tears.  The days additionally brightened when Jimmy Oakes & John Kolbeck became involved. A sense of renewed love and passion came back into the equation and the result was phenomenal. And, as I heard the vocal harmonies of the Bird with the 2 Andys and of course Jimmy, I melted and froze at the same time. Brilliant. I so missed the days of listening to The Great Escape on vinyl and now here, in the studio, we are hearing it live. Of course, I changed the name of the album to The Sun and the Moon sessions which seemed quite appropriate….and left some background conversations between the band intact on the recordings…and added another ten fucking songs. Twenty songs…we had twenty two, but they wouldn’t fit. Sorry for that. I owe the world to Tara…when I was giving up / throwing in the fucking towel, she landed me back on my feet. She just felt our music thousands of miles away and understood it.  She simply scolded me, gave me the most positive reinforcement I have ever had and gave me many hugs via email. You can Thank her for this new album, not me. I have, by the way, come to terms with the fact that there will be more albums coming in the future as well. Also, due to Kwasi, I am a smoker again. Maybe this helped us with the lyrical parts of the songs?

We recorded this disc at Flood Studios, our own, in Georgia. The Flood Studios name brilliantly came to us when a fucking hurricane came through and Burgess and I were quickly removing wet gear from the studio with our pants rolled up and shirts off. Please don’t get too excited as I‘m mentioning removing our clothing. I mixed and produced the record, since I am a control freak and always need to be in the driver’s seat. I think I did a bit better on this one…We wound up mastering the album at the famous Rodney Mills’ Masterhouse in Duluth with Rodney himself. It was a nice break for Rodney since he didn’t have to master another gangster rap project that day. Leyla Compani, the coolest Iranian chick you will ever meet, is mostly responsible for the cover design and artwork. John (I’m addicted to making you tube videos) Kolbeck and I took the photos. We had a finished cover one day and then said fuck all. Take all of our mugs off and let’s simplify. So, we took some pictures of our guitars and Andy’s brandy bottle. Done, finito. It did turn out quite nicely though. To sum up the music….Andy W. called me late one night and said, “Far away and across the sea, back to life as songwriters.”

The album will be released on myspace first(June 1), then Itunes and other distributors in the fall of 09.

Song Order and Time Length

Lie Still  03:39:47 

Turn Out The Light  0:2:25:67 

Tidal Wave  03:49:67

Fino a Sera  01:39:08

Love & Light  04:47:43

Weigh It Down  05:40:46

An Individual Mind  03:44:66

Purest Joy  04:27:35

Heard Her Scream  02:23:35

Don’t Know Where You’re Going  02:24:26

Take Your Time  05:15:14

Bend  03:41:42

The Rest Of Everything  03:33:07

Dead  03:33:72

Say Goodbye  04:46:71

Sleep  03:30:25

Mother Nature  05:20:45

Pray  03:32:17

Last Seconds  02:40:25

Age End  04:19:66