Black Swan Lane – Vita Eterna
I have enjoyed Black Swan Lane, since I found out about them last year. When I found that their new album was coming out this year and they were going to feature guest guitarist Dave Fielding, from The Chameleons UK, I knew I had to hear and review their new album Vita Eterna.
Vita Eterna will be released on November 26th, 2019. Black Swan Lane is a Georgia – based rock group that has featured contributions from different members of one of my favorite Manchester, UK bands, The Chameleons. Besides Mark Burgess, the lead singer and bassist; John Lever, drummer for the Chameleons, has also participated on Black Swan Lane albums in the past. Mark Burgess, played guitar and sang on Black Swan Lane’s initial three albums. Burgess left to form his own band, shortly thereafter with former Chameleons members. But, the two bands have been closely linked.
Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Jack Sobel, and lead guitarist John Kolbeck founded BSL in Atlanta in 2007. Vita Eterna is Black Swan Lane’s 8th studio album.
Vita Eterna was written over a two-year period. Lead vocalist, musician, and primary songwriter Jack Richard Sobel and lyricist Alessandro Dematteis are joined by band members John Kolbeck, on acoustic and bass guitar, and Jason Monseur, on drums. Backing vocalists include: Krissy Vanderwoude, Lauren Fay, and Gretchen Copeland.
“Pure”, opens with echoing guitar riffs, entering from a distance, before Jack Richard Sobel’s deep vocals enter the stage. “You take the world and make it so pure!” His vocals sound like the perfect mix between Mark Burgess from the Chameleons and Jim Morrison of the Doors. What a combo eh? The drums pulse as lead electric saw-like guitar riffs echo above the Manchester-filled guitar soundscape. Jack Sobel plays bass and rhythm guitar and Dave Fielding plays lead guitar. Sobel, slowly enunciates the narrative and lyrics succinctly, just like Morrison used to do. A wonderful, peaceful song to open the album. Sobel sings, “This one is all for you”. Thank you. Lauren Fay and Krissy Vanderwoude provide soft backing vocals.
“The Prisoner”, is the first single off Vita Eterna. A fascinating video was produced to support the single. This song opens with guest vocalist, Krissy Vanderwoude, singing, “Till the end”. Vanderwoude adds the perfect sweetness on the choruses to provide a wonderful counterbalance to Sobel. Monseur’s rhythmic drums add to the strength of the track, as Dave Fielding takes us back to the sound of the Chameleons on guitar. One of my favorite songs of the year. Sobel sings, “Don’t burden me with lies, don’t burden me with fear”. “I’m yearning for the past”. So am I, and so are many other people who want to hear this music. A wonderful return to life before corruption in high places and extreme nativism and ethnocentrism around the world.
“Shadow of the Stars”, opens with that wonderful Chameleons’ sound, and Lauren Fay vocals singing, “Everything is wrong with you”. Sobel sings, “Shadows of the stars so dark in here”. The guitar work from Sobel and Fielding is so intricate and glowing. The rhythm and melody of the song is so absorbing and relaxing that you just do not want it to end. Fielding adds the ebow to really take you back.
“Happy”, is Sobel’s opportunity to mix up the vocals and your mind. He goes full-on Jim Morrison on this song. I have not heard a song that would have fit Morrison as well as this, since the early 1970s. Sobel does an incredible job of bringing his spirit back to life on this song. Just listen to the lyrics, as if written by Jim, Sobel sings, “Follow me like a rock star…Come on down and touch me…(yep, the famous second song off The Soft Parade), so I can breathe. Nothing is going to make me happy. ‘Cause everything will change me then.”. Jim would have or probably did say these lines himself at one time or another. Sobel sings, “Listen to my soul, a first and second chance”. A bouncy power-rocker with excellent shimmering guitar, stomping drums, and well-felt rhythm, lead guitar and bass from John Kolbeck. The Doors comparison is so perfect, especially when Sobel sings without instrumental accompaniment. The Morrison-like whispers are an eerie reminder of what we miss about Jim’s presence. His ability to talk directly to you.
“Tears”, is not a cover of the Chameleons’ kingpin, epic, song. It is wonderful in its own right. It does start with wonderful guitar like the Chameleons’ song; but only the Chameleons’ song can actually bring you to tears. Sobel does a great job though, “To be young… To be high enough to see the devil over me. Voice of God, will say, “take these tears away. I found a special place and it’s buried deep inside”. Find me here with open arms”. Beautiful backing female, uh huh, vocals from Fay, and then the full chorus. Stellar track! The guitar work is wonderful as is the powerful drumming and bass.
“Condannare”, is all Jack Sobel. Heart-felt lyrics delivered with seamless vocal emotion. Warm electric and acoustic guitar opens the song, until Sobel sings, “Is it bad, is it true? Did your heart let you fall?” “Are your dreams coming true?” Powerful…like Mark Burgess coming at you at full speed. “Condannare”, is a word for prisoner; and Sobel delivers the lyrics of being enslaved to love for someone, currently out of reach. “Is there nothing I can do? Always disapprove”. The music is a powerful mix of Manchester guitar sounds. Sobel sings, “I will find you”, to comforting, warm acoustic guitar. Dave Fielding brings back the ebow on lead guitar, and places it perfectly in the soundscape. All of the ladies support well with vocals, including Gretchen Copeland.
“The End is the Same”, opens with grinding drums and bass, with wonderful whirling electric guitar from Fielding and Sobel. Close your eyes and immerse yourself into the memory of Chameleons songs of the past, with a new voice. The Black Swan Lane Guitars add that ethereal melody and sound we remember. Sobel sings, “Somewhere there is a gentle soul. You understand my every move”. “And in your mind you will never find a connection stronger than mine”. The three ladies, Vanderwoude, Fay, and Copeland, provide wonderful surround sound to the track. So much like a Chameleons’ song that you will almost cry with joy that you have finally found a band as powerful…again.
“These Old Wounds”, opens with cool lead electric guitar, and Gretchen Copeland adding vocals to the mix. Sobel sings, “Find the joy in the silence….Go as fast as you can. These old wounds. My only prayer is my hope. With my head in my hands. There is nothing left to ever fear”. A warm, solid rocker.
“Tremble”, starts with a buzz. Vanderwoude and Copeland provide excellent vocal support. Then, that wonderful grinding lead guitar from Fielding in the forefront and background. Surrounded by the Black Swan Lane Guitars programmed effect. Definitely a Chameleons inspired song. Fielding is all over this track. One of the best on the album. Sobel hauntingly sings, “Now everything is over. Now everything is gone”. “Losing sleep, spending time, trembling”. This one I did not want to end. They give Fielding the stage and allow all the musicians free reign, halfway through the song. It’s magic!
“Silence of the Heart”, opens with a female voice speaking Spanish on a phone. Then banging drums, bass, and that wonderful; whirling guitar sound surrounds you. Sobel sings, “All I need is what I do. I’m still here in love with you”. Another wonderful love song filled with emotion, deep drums, wonderful guitar work, and Fay and Vanderwoude’s vocals.
“Two Oceans”, is one of my favorite songs on the album. It opens with slow acoustic guitar. That wonderful Fielding echo guitar is at work again. Sobel and Vanderwoude sing in a duet. “We are still alive. Hold me one time. Find me in your light”. Then, they let Fielding fly…and we are all grateful he is unleashed. His magic envelopes the soundscape so well that you wish for a long instrumental. It doesn’t come, but he provides some of that signature echoing guitar we all know and love.
“Slip”, opens with drums, stringed orchestration and that wonderful electric lead guitar echo. This is another song that would fit well on a number of Chameleons albums. The lyrics are soothing and peaceful. Sobel sings, “I’ll never forget. What’s in your mind. It makes me blind. It makes me high. An infinite love. I cannot change. An infinite life. It makes me blind. It gets me high. Though memory slips and fragments are lost, the vessel of time, it makes us all want to survive!” Those wonderful guitar melodies return. The drumming is spot on. Your memory slips, but the feelings remain…All of the ladies provide wonderful vocal support.
“Sea of Me”, opens with optimistic guitar rhythms and morning side acoustic guitar and orchestration. Sobel sings, “Earn the right to let me breathe. Hide within the sea of me. Chase the dreams that blow my mind. Too soon to show my other side. Collapse in your arms. Safely away from everything”. Then, just let the music do the talking. Beautiful acoustic guitar rhythm and orchestration. Vanderwoude provides wonderful vocal support.
This will probably be my favorite album of the year. I know Black Swan Lane are not the Chameleons, but some of us want the Chameleons back so badly we are in search of a band to take their place. Jack Richard Sobel and lyricist Alessandro Dematteis have created a perfect replacement for the Chameleons. They sound like them without sounding like a cover band. The lyrics from Dematteis actually gives the Chameleons a real challenge. Band members John Kolbeck and Jason Monseur, provide excellent musicianship along with Sobel’s multi-instrumental talent.
Vita Eterna’s 13 song track list is easily one of the finest of the year. There are no fillers or extras. Every track is a hit. Buy this album and enjoy every minute of it. I did!
Track List
- Pure – 4:59
- The Prisoner – 5:21
- Shadow of the Stars – 3:58
- Happy – 3:17
- Tears – 4:27
- Condannare – 4:44
- The End is The Same – 2:40
- These Old Wounds – 3:29
- Tremble- 6:29
- Silence of the Heart – 3:50
- Two Oceans – 4:11
- Slip – 5:54
- Sea of Me – 4:05
https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/blackswanlane5
Congrats for this great review!!!
Let me tell you just that the girl at the beginning of The Silence Of The Heart is talking in Italian??
You did an amazing review: thanks from the bottom of my heart ❤️
Alessandro Dematteis