The Thousands

Floating through the cosmos, Sydney’s Jordy Lane, aka Shady Lane, is a modern day philosopher. On his debut album, Here We Go Down The Black Hole, he cruises the stratosphere debating the existence of God, pondering the meaning of life, and obsessing about death. Alright!

Don’t get me wrong, this is no morbid affair. Like the Silver Jews or The Flaming Lips, Shady Lane lures you in with easygoing, upbeat songs that belie the dark lyrical content underneath.

Musically, Shady Lane make well-arranged, softly strummed, atmospheric folktronica; think The Postal Service, a more tuneful Grandaddy, or any of Nigel Godrich’s spaced-out productions, like late-era Pavement (from whom Jordy nicked his new monikor to avoid confusion with Melbourne’s Jordie Lane).

"All your special feelings, the ones you imagine give your life some meaning, they will follow you into nothingness" Wow. Like a tall cool glass of lemonade with a hefty shot of Absolut, Shady Lane’s music soothes your aching body while the lyrics jolt your eyes wide open. Good stuff.