Black Swan Green

"Unlike some other newish acts who wear their noise-rock influences on their sleeves, this band pummels them into a sound worthy of the shoegaze evolution."
Drone Magazine - Drone Magazine

"Black Swan Green plays ambient alt-rock, reminiscent of the Appleseed Cast in its subtle grandeur. HJ Crickmore's lyrics exist somewhere in the middle of fuzzy guitars, where only the keenest of ears can pick up his articulation. The best way to consume Black Swan Green, however, might be to let go of reality, close your eyes and let your ears soak up the swirling instrumental daze." - CMJ new music news

Black Swan Green is a band from Brooklyn that straddles that magic line between psychedelic and shoegaze: employing the unleashed power of the later with the swirling guitar and droning warmth of the former. Practicing their surges of sound in an abandoned rifle range, the band put together their first LP the ruin gaze... - RCRD LBL

The BLURT staff put our heads (and ears) together and we have our latest pick for our Blurt "Best Kept Secret": it's Brooklyn's Black Swan Green, whose recently self-released album The Ruin Gaze is an utterly compelling miasma of psychedelia, shoegaze and pop.
BLURT MAGAZINE JAN 2009 - Blurt magazine

The surreal synth layers incorporated into Black Swan Green's debut create an atmosphere for brooding themes and dreams to converge into beautiful nightmares. Hugh Crickmore's vocals are reminiscent of Interpol's Paul Banks. Where the comparison ends, however, is the delivery of Crickmore's cathartic lyrics over a dreamlike landscape of chill percussion and loose guitars..... - Campus Circle Jan. 7 2007

Brand-new-very-Brooklyn band Black Swan Green is getting some nice buzz around town. It's all because of the wistful, muddied rock on it's debut album, the ruin gaze...
TIMEOUTNEWYORK Jan. 22, 2009 - Timeout New York

Last week, EAR FARM was invited to join Black Swan Green for an interview and an exclusive sneak peek at the songs that will comprise their upcoming EP (initial reaction: the new songs thunder forward with a determination not found on their debut; the great young band continues to get better). Given the manner with which they flew into our world, seemingly out of nowhere back in August, we relished this opportunity to find out more about this band called Black Swan Green. What’s made them mature so completely, so rapidly, and how’d they find their way into the hearts and ears of EAR FARM before we even knew what had hit us? How’d they know this music was precisely the kind of music we wanted -nay, needed- to hear; and, who exactly is this Black Swan Green anyway?
But we’re guessing that some day soon you’re going to see their live show, buy one of their records, and connect to the music on the most basic of levels. To say it is pure, and “art for art’s sake,” might sound cliché, but that’s precisely what this music is all about. It washes over, and through, the listener with tidal immediacy as if it’s a tsunami of common memories you not only relate to, but were part of yourself. In the end this should not come as a surprise; because, as is the case with each and every great artist struggling for a foothold in the mountain of creativity, Black Swan Green’s efforts have been bolstered not only by a belief in themselves, in the art they’re creating, but also by believing in their audience, believing in a true sense of “community,” and perhaps most importantly, by their immediate community believing in them.
- earfarm.com

http://earfarm.com/band-of-the-week/special-feature/1826 - earfarm.com

"Brooklyn alternative quartet Black Swan Green’s transcendent dream pop exists in a perpetual twilight. The band’s talent for combining post-rock textures, cathartic vocals, and bittersweet melodies culminate in creating the perfect soundtrack for the dark end of the street."
URB Magazine Mar. 2009 - URB Magazine

"if you are interested in new acts that do the whole shoegaze noise-rock thing, do not miss out on Black Swan Green. These guys from Brooklyn play some cool stuff and have a pretty good appreciation of bands such as My Bloody Valentine and The Jesus And Mary Chain. Beautiful stuff, probably some of my favorite recent discoveries."
Radio Gears Mar. 2009 - Radio Gears