WISHFUL BLACK SWAN LANE

Wishful, by BLACK SWAN LANE, from the 2022 album, Blind. (Wanderland, Eden) Atlanta guitarist, singer, leader Jack Sobel has metamorphosized from a talented songwriter into something of a simmering solo genius. This is his, their 10th LP the public has way too little awareness of, and recent efforts have proved particularly remarkable excursions into his deep end of the moody, broodyyetbeautiful postpunk pool. BSLs bearings dont change, as they spin another decidedly gray but not gloomy, glisteningguitarcentric, atmospheric minimasterpiece, traversing between The Chameleons (two of whom appeared on previous BSL LPs) and Joy Division, with space for The Church, Into Paradise, and Straightjacket Fits Melt. Fragile is a new Intrigue in Tangiers, with a colossal Ive no power to fight chorus chord progression; and the late Martin Hannett himself could hardly improve on Cant Keep Me Quiet. That track and the also uptempo Wishful are especially invigorating, but its the apprehensive lush