Swan Lake is a super-group made up of Destroyer's Dan Bejar, Frog Eyes' Carey Mercer and Spencer Krug of Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown. Beast Moans was casually recorded at a house in British Columbia by the three friends. The Jagjaguwar release features gorgeous artwork by Bejar's friend, the exceptionally talented Toronto painter Shary Boyle known for her work with Peaches, Feist and Will Oldham.
All three Swan Lake members contribute songs, and it is easy to tell who wrote what because they all sing their own songs on the record. Destroyer turns in a few gems including "A Venue Called Rubella" and the album centerpiece, "The Freedom". Mercer's tracks are more understated here than on his impassioned and highly dramatic records with Frog Eyes. Krug turns in some excellent songs as well, most notably, "Are You Swimming In Her Pools" and "All Fires".
The album manages to successfully incorporate elements of all three artists styles while still sounding distinctly different. The sound is a bit more washed-out and less focused than records by the artist's own projects, a bit more playful and slapdash. It may take repeated listens in order to begin truly appreciating the record, some songs come off as diamonds in the rough, with their melodies buried below fuzz, feedback and washes of vague sound like a Velvet Underground or a Sister Lovers.
Obviously required listening for fans of all three of these guys' other bands. If you're only a fan of one or two of the other bands, Beast Moans might provide an interesting introduction to the ones you aren't familiar with. This is excellent indie rock and one of the year's finest albums.
