Mute Swan - Only Ever
From the presser:
The new record from Tucson's Mute Swan... which is the more rockin' shoegaze psychedelic project from Forest Fallow's Mike Barnett. If you are into that 90s' Dream Pop wall of Melodic Noise vibe ala Swervedriver, Jesus and Mary Chain, Ride, etc you will love this record.
(If you don't already have it, PICK UP THE FOREST FALLOWS LP... it's great!!!)
First pressing is limited to 300 copies on white pearl vinyl.
Mute Swan is the louder, psychedelic parallel-project of PIAPTK alumnus Forest Fallow's Mike Barnett (guitar, vocals). Along with Prabjit Virdee (bass,vocals), Thomas Sloane (guitar) and Gilbert Flores (drums), the Tucson-based four-piece blends neo-psychedelic guitar rock with 90's shoegaze, dream pop and post-punk. They formed in 2014 when two projects dissolved in order to work on something more ambitious, with more attention to production on-stage and in-studio. Since then they've put out an LP, 2 EP's, and a handful of singles and music videos, drawing attention from the Fader and numerous other music publications. In addition to extensive touring across the US, they've opened for The Psychedelic Furs, Modern English, Soft Kill, Wild Nothing, Chris Cohen, No Joy, and many others.
Mute Swan's third offering, Only Ever, takes ingredients from the 90's british underground (fuzzy chorus-laden guitars, airy vocals, hypnotic rhythms) and melds them into a more modern psych-rock style. As it additionally draws from post-punk one moment and krautrock the next, the nine track album manages to weave multiple threads into something cohesive unto itself. While often enveloped in thick vocal effects, the lyrics range in theme from criticisms of the ruling class, to the opioid epidemic, to more personal and philosophical musings. With its experimental approach to production and sonic details, these songs take multiple listens to fully digest and appreciate.