I have been reviewing Black Swan Lane’s albums ever since I first heard them and found out about the band and Jack Sobel’s connections, to the Chameleons, from Manchester, UK. Black Swan Lane is now a solo project of Jack Richard Sobel, a multi-instrumentalist, and one of the best male vocalists in rock or ethereal wave rock, today.
Atlanta – based Jack Sobel, is releasing his 10th album, Blind, under the Black Swan Lane name, on December 14th. The music is, as he describes it, “moody/broody-yet-beautiful post-punk” music that speaks directly to you from Sobel’s life experiences.
Blind opens with “Wishful”. At times it reminds me a little of the Doors’ “Wishful, Sinful”, off my favorite Doors album, The Soft Parade. But this is not that song. It is Jack’s response to a relationship, much as the Doors’ song is; but with a very different, modern sound. Jack’s song is much darker. This song is full of dark lyrics and symphonic keyboards, set to a cool pace on drums and guitar. Like Morrison’s vocal, it is full of a wish for something better, something missing. Jack sings, “Can’t extinguish my fear of flames. I wish I could feel what you feel. When you run outside for a second goodbye. Too delicate to face your stare. No amount of wishful thinking can extinguish my fear of flames. No amount of failure. My heart remains the same”. Definitely, a difficult place to be stuck in.
“As Soon as You Can”, opens with a bright acoustic guitar sound, before Jack sings, “You keep me close. You give me space. Rid me of pain. You give me grace. As soon as you can, just spare me. As quick as you can just speak to me”. We are, after all, in an eternal search for answers. A desperate plea to reach out to someone comforting and knowing. Great guitar work, and steady drum beats.
“Blind”, is the title song. It is full of great electric guitar. Jack sings, “You let me fade into your song. Hold me forever. Wipe my shadow gone. Try not to worry. It will fade away. Can you find me. Will anyone know I’m blind. I’ve been here all along”. Another song, reaching out…to maybe the world, or someone for contact and conversation.
“In the Garden with Eve”, is every young man’s childhood dream song title, come to life. Finally, someone coined it and named a song after the dream. But this is another very dark thought sequence. Jack sings, “Where does life take you to? What, does death do to you?” Questions we all ask, right? Jack puts it to music, and the feeling is much deeper, and worrisome. “Too simple to stay, too hard to leave”. Indeed. The music is wonderful, including strings, keyboards, atmospherics, percussion, guitar and a fantastic drum beat.
“The Fool”, is a brighter lyrical song. Jack sings, “Too much love flowing through my brain. Not myself again”. The music is dreamy. Wonderful guitar, and that Manchester sound, which permeates the entire album. Great drum beats and those remarkable keys.
“Can’t Keep Me Quiet”, opens with a female voice, “Are you sitting comfortably?”, taking me back to one of my favorite IQ songs, but only for a moment. This has nothing to do with, or sound like IQ. The IQ song has one of my favorite keyboard instrumentals. Instead of keyboards, Black Swan Lane returns to guitar, drums and cymbals. Jack sings, “You can’t keep me locked away”. A powerful song of independence.
“Case My Mind”, is full of a wonderful melody. Jack sings, “Rise above the highest bridge. I know exactly where to go. And walk up to the intimate ledge. And I’ll check out what’s below. Case my mind”. If only we could. Remove ourselves, as if in dreams. To places we would rather be. The ability to cast your mind into the future or past, and live in that realm for a while. What a gift that would be, huh?
“Fragile”, opens with a whining lead electric guitar that abruptly ends and becomes a driven riff, along with well-paced drums. Jack sings, “Do you believe in understanding? You don’t know what I am”. Later he sings, “I have no power to fight. I only need you to leave. You don’t know what I am”. Definitely a misunderstanding, that leads to a sad ending.
“Drown”, has a great electric guitar opening. Jack sings, “The moments she’s in to too many steps. And what if you couldn’t breathe? After holding your breath. Beautiful keyboards. “Open your doors. Can you still see. Let in some light. Keep following me”. The guitar and music are beautiful, but the lyrics are sad.
“Angels”, is my favorite song on the album. It is filled with the most hope, of all the songs. Jack sings, “Wash away the pain that lies. Say its time to escape for good. Angels around us that you can see”.
“The Calling”, also has a great melody. The drumming is spectacular. The guitar work is also immaculate. Jack sings, “Extravagantly happy, but still so sad”. Yes, that sums up a lot of the lyrics on this entire album. Jack sings, “Where do I start going, when I’m lost?” Great question we all have at one time or another, in life.
“Escape”, opens with deep bass, keys and slow drums. A slower paced delivery than the other tracks. Jack sings, “Follow the stars. Believe what you see. We’re meant to be. All I want is you. Don’t tell me you care. Don’t walk away”. Reaching out for someone for comfort. “Run to the sun, escape”.
Jack’s music is deep thinking music that creates space for you to escape from your current state and enter a different world. You can get emersed and allow your mind to wander into this music and the melodies he creates. He reaches out to our primal fears and feelings, like few can with music. The ethereal sound and nature of his music allows you the opportunity to ponder many feelings that we remain blind to, and only seldom, maybe reluctantly, examine.
Please pick up this album. It is a wonderous album to immerse yourself within for its duration.
Track List
- Wishful
- As Soon as You Can
- Blind
- In the Garden with Eve
- The Fool
- Can’t Keep Me Quiet
- Case My Mind
- Fragile
- Drown
- Angels
- The Calling
- Escape
Websites and Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/blackswanlane/
You Tube and Music Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/@blackswanlane
“Wishful”
“As Soon As You Can”