Black Phoebe – Black Phoebe – Review
by Killian Laher

Mark Lanegan has been dabbling with dance music for a couple of years.  A couple of his recent albums received a dance remix, and this is an indication of what this project with his wife Shelly Brien sounds like.  Ever wondered what if Lanegan went full-on techno?  The eight minute opening track Come To The Shadow King will answer that, Lanegan’s growled vocals over clattering synths, with vague hints of New Order.  Which works better than you might expect!

Saturn Rising and Rising High Water are more like the downbeat, late-night fare you’d expect here, brooding as darkly as any of Lanegan’s solo albums.  The latter is like primitive blues updated for 2020.  Elsewhere, Shiva Danced Me Down features Brien on vocals, a kind of goth techno hybrid.  In The Trial of a Comet also features Brien, and might be the most dancefloor-oriented track here.

It’s an interesting diversion for Lanegan but not necessarily one you’d want him to give up the day job for.

Track List:

1. Come To The Shadow King
2. Saturn Rising
3. Shiva Danced Me Down
4. In The Trial of a Comet
5. Rising High Water

Saturn Rising