Shady Lane - Here We Go, Down The Black Hole

First published on 24 Sep 2009. Updated on 26 Oct 2009.

Shady Lane - Here We Go Down The Black Hole Jordy Lane's music, much like the Pavement song from which he derived his moniker Shady Lane, is best absorbed through headphones whilst meandering through the 'burbs on a sunny afternoon on the precipice of Spring.

If you enjoyed Bibio's recent release Ambivalence Avenue (again with the street references!), chances are you will love this. It too is a sweet mix of folk and beats, with sampled sounds of chattering children thrown in for good measure. Channeling both Lou Barlow and Thom Yorke, 'Who is the Host?' is a clinky, lo-fi number ala Bubble and Scrape-era Sebadoh, while 'Oh, Reality' could be mistaken for Radiohead's 'Idioteque'. Instrumental track 'Here We Go, Down The Black Hole' is full of the looped electronica goodness that Rice Is Nice label mates Seekae have been steadily gaining a name for.

Fans of Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service are also accounted for. They will appreciate the upbeat synth pop tempo of the album and Jordy's wistful, boyish vocals. But while lyrically Ben Gibbard has a tendency to slap on the saccharine, when Jordy strolls through shady lanes he isn't lamenting relationships gone wrong and loves lost. It's not a broken heart that he is suffering from, but existential angst. Scientific innovation, the existence of God and the meaning of life? All up Shady Lane's alley.