A leap of faith reaps extraordinary rewards on Black Bay, the debut album of depth, atmosphere and daring from the collective known as Silver Moth. Black Bay is the sound of storied musicians yielding to shared goals, a policy of trust in action. Between hushed incantations and molten guitars, 15-minute noise-rock epics and healing psalms, their music is a testament to connectivity and receptivity: to a union of disparate minds committing to something greater than the sum of its parts.

Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai, Elisabeth Elektra, members of Abrasive Trees, Burning House, Prosthetic Head, Evi Vine and Steven Hill convened to improvise the album in early 2021. A couple of meetings would subsequently lead to them visiting the dramatic location of Great Bernera’s Black Bay Studios on the Isle of Lewis, where they tracked the songs in just four days: a testament to the musicians’ focused openness to their shared mission and environment.

“In just a few days the collective spirited up this fabulously elemental LP, inspired by the epic location on the Isle Of Lewis… Two pungent long-form pieces will stir Mogwai fans: opener ‘Henry’ builds to a tumultuous roar while 15 minute ‘Hello Doom’ patiently acquires layers before achieving cement-mixer intensity, then blissful release… An in-the-moment super-session of substance.” MOJO – 4 stars ****

“A meeting of musical minds… Drawing from post-punk, poetry and Celtic mythology, the seven-piece have created a mesmerising and forceful first collection. The gorgeous ‘Mother Tongue’; spoken-word centrepiece ‘Gaelic Psalm’; and menacing, 15-minute soundscape ‘Hello Doom’ show off their range.” Uncut

“…something quite beautiful. The noise-rock seven-piece features Elisabeth Elektra and Mogwai’s Stuart Braithwaite, and like the band’s namesake, their sound is nocturnal, fleeting through the dark in search of light.” The Skinny

“Outstanding… a stunning, post-rock odyssey… a mystical work of wonder.” PROG