NEW YEAR, NEW BAND

1/2/2024

NEW YEAR, NEW BAND

That Didn’t Take Long…

I have two favourite music periodicals. One of them is LOUDER THAN WAR which is edited by my pal JOHN ROBB.

The other is THE BIG TAKEOVER magazine.

This longtime bastion of (mostly) indie music started in 1980, is based in New York City and is helmed by JACK RABID.

It publishes bi- annually but don’t let that 2 per year quota fool you. For example, the current issue is 168 pages in length and, as you can see, the print is tiny.

Each issue is jammed packed with new release reviews, as well as lengthy in depth interviews, articles, and live reviews. I also scour the ads for new releases.

THE BIG TAKEOVER – Issue 93
Cover Stars – SLOWDIVE

One issue is published just before summer and the other near the end of November. I look forward every year to reading [Ed. Note- rex really means “devouring”] the mag over the Xmas holidays. This year was no exception.

In reading this issue it didn‘t take me long to discover several outfits that were new to me.

JACK does his 40 Top reviews each issue and then he and the other writers add many, many more. There are at least 200+ reviews to methodically review and assess.

The review of a band new to me that has had the most immediate impact so far was #21 on the list. The band is BLACK SWAN LANE and the LP is entitled “Dead Souls Collide.”

From the review it would appear this band is Atlanta based and fronted by JACK SOBEL but also has been integrated with musicians from legendary Manchester band, THE CHAMELEONS, including front man MARK BURGESS.

References in the review to the band sounding like the “Heaven Up Here” LP by ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN 🇬🇧 as well as the WHIPPING BOY 🇮🇪 had me listening and instantly in rapture.

I have no idea how this band has eluded my attention as they have been recording for over 15 years! This is their 11th LP.

I am totally smitten.

And so the first vinyl quest of 2024 begins- find BLACK SWAN LANE LPs!