Black Swan Green is a new shoegazery dream pop band from Brooklyn that’s going to immediately score points with fans of music that blends the textural adventures of Atlas Sound with soaring vocals à la James and the wandering guitar melodies you’ll find in bands like Interpol and Ride. Frankly, there should be music listener shorthand for bands like this, because if you’re into dark, brooding, listless, emotive rock…say, perhaps, you’re searching for a modern Galaxie 500…look no further. You’ve got a friend in Black Swan Green.

Alright, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The band is just putting some finishing touches on a first batch of songs they recently recorded, they’re new kids on the block. Therefore, what you’ll find posted below are only demo versions of two tracks - we’re strictly talking potential here. But man, these two songs do show quite a bit of potential. The first, “Waxwing”, flanges its way at you in elegant layers of guitars and effects before settling into a verse that feels strangely comfortable, like slipping into a brand new outfit that fits as though you’ve worn it many times before. The perfect pair of jeans you wear right out of the dressing room. This near déjà vu at first listen moment reveals Black Swan Green’s maturity as songwriters and ease with which they’ve built upon their obvious shoegazer influences. It’s a fine line to walk, and the band flies pretty close to the sun, but their music isn’t an imitation of what’s come before; rather, it hints at where dream pop might be headed in the future.

“Keeper of Rain” takes all of the main aspects of the band - thumping bass, well positioned guitar textures, dreamy vocals, nicely understated percussion, an entire stratosphere of synth layers - and delivers them impeccably. It can’t be “just a demo”, it’s too fully realized. And it begs the question: where’s Black Swan Green going to go after scraping the sky so masterfully with these first two songs?

The answer: they still have a ways to go, but it’s going to be a lot of fun watching them get there. The journey begins with a series of live shows and a soon-to-be-released self-recorded/produced LP. Stay tuned for more information about the debut album. As for seeing Black Swan Green live, conveniently, you’ve got your first opportunity to do just that tonight at Glasslands in Brooklyn. What’re you waiting for? Listen. Love. Black Swan Green.

Listen:
“Waxwing”
“Keeper of Rain”

See Black Swan Green live:
12 August - Glasslands w/ The Gang, Brooklyn, NY
29 August - Lit Lounge, New York, NY
11 September - Rehab w/ Matt Hopper, New York, NY
10 October - Union Pool w/ The Sky Drops and Luff, Brooklyn, NY

Visit Black Swan Green on MySpace.