We now come to an early front runner for album of the year. Black Bay is the album from the collective band of musicians know as Silver Moth.

It’s very likely that due to the circumstances surrounding its creation (a global pandemic, enforced isolation) this will be a one off.

Just six songs long the album showcases a very talented band of musicians who each bring a flavour of their own band/solo work to the table but still construct something special to this band.

From the 15 minute epic of Hello Doom full of slow burning post rock chaos and guitar feedback to the almost spiritual Gaelic Psalm and its poetry reading to the beautiful female vocals on The Eternal this is a special album.

The opening track Henry is full of chiming guitars and ethereal voices with a building wall of noise that fully takes off before drifting back to earth.

Bella Union also deserve praise for a superbly packaged album, I’ve got the clear vinyl and even the sleeve with the artwork is stunning

Chances are it will take something special in the rest of 2023 to top this album