It wasn’t 2 weeks ago that I made a mental note to email Group member (and all-round good guy) JACK SOBEL of Atlanta/ (sort of Manchester) based post-punk titans BLACK SWAN LANE 🇺🇸 🇬🇧.
You see, I was starting to compile my “Best of ‘25 List” and it occurred to me that there was no LP this year from BSL. I was going to tell JACK I was a tiny bit sad about that.
BOOM!
Before I got around to composing the message, there it was- a brand- spanking new LP entitled “The Messenger.”
[Ed. Note- Not the 2013 LP of the same name by JOHNNY MARR.]
“The Messenger”
(Eden Records) (2025)
JACK SOBEL has been the founding and constant member of this outfit. MARK BURGESS, lead singer of Manchester 🇬🇧 post- punk legends THE CHAMELEONS participated for the first 3 LPs (of what is now a 12 LP discography) since just 2007.
This LP has been on a serious listening rotation since Friday. I recommend it if you like JOY DIVISION, CHAMELEONS (more on them soon), DANSE SOCIETY, IST IST, EDITORS and dare I say it, BFG, to my ears.
A couple guest musicians (of a number) are noted as contributing to this gem. CHAMELEON legend, DAVE FIELDING wields his E-bow.
And, much to my delight, backing vocals are from ace indie pal KRISSY VANDERWOUDE of WHIMSICAL providing a cherry on top!
[Editor’s Note- KRISSY once wrote and separately mailed a thank you note to rex for purchasing the latest WHIMSICAL release. He still has the note… hmmm.]
Give this LP a listen. There are 12 glorious post-punk (edging on goth) tunes stretched masterfully over nearly an hour. I think you will find it will be well worth the time investment.
PMore on this fave outfit will come soon. But for now, I want to share two tracks. I start with the powerful opener- “Promise” and then offer the song “Drawing In Your Heart”. It is the 3rd track- one that seems to have a serious hold on my psyche at the moment.
“Looking for a ways to set me free, I’m on my hands, I’m on my knees..” is rolling around in my head constantly these past 5 days…
Here we go with “Promise.”
SPOTIFY-
https://open.spotify.com/track/0wd5vQAbVsBFxlungrDqlV?si=yG0oAMQVTcqXzNyDLyTDnA
(SONG 1392)
There does not appear to be a video yet for “Drawing In My Heart”.
SPOTIFY-
https://open.spotify.com/track/1iYgdmIK0dcsPjaN5zuqUO?si=R8iwwzbDTmOeWz9WXf0g4A
(SONG 1393)
[Ed. Note- rex was introduced to this band by JACK RABID, the editor of NYC based indie music magazine “Big Takeover”. Now, go get yourself both “The Messenger” and a subscription to “The Big Takeover” and make your holiday a good one.]
Play Loud Or Perish
12/17/2025
underground365 
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