Initially, there is something suspicious about the ease with which Black Linen write simple, clever pop songs. Was there some sort of deal with the devil which unlocked a treasure trove of hooks, or was it simply a matter of talent and fate? However, once the background of the band is considered, the vintage riffs and danceable tunes make complete sense.
Black Linen is the passion project of frontman Randy Michael and his close friend Jonah Swilley. Michael’s musical history, in particular, is as dense as it is varied. In addition to playing guitar and songwriting for former retro rockers the Booze and neo-soul revivalist Curtis Harding, he has produced songs for various local and regional acts including Poison Arrows and Mattiel. In many ways, Black Linen is a natural evolution for him, a project driven by his love for music, but bolstered by other experienced Atlanta musicians. Pietro DiGennaro (since replaced by Jordan Manley) lent his Ringo-inspired drumming to the record, and Adam Anzio, his former bandmate in the Booze, played bass. This left Jonah Swilley to float between drums, rhythm guitar, and vocals while Michael focused on catchy piano, organ, and guitar licks.
No matter the song, Black Linen put their own spin on tried and true rock and roll themes. Love, heartbreak, deception, and loneliness are poured out in equal measure here. “Go Easy” showcases Michael’s ability to leave the listener wanting more. The three-minute jam switches from a sunny organ melody to a psychedelic slow dance before closing the song with a jaunty backbeat. Meanwhile, the fiery “Super Fuzz” is one of the most immediate tracks on the record. Here, Black Linen’s Motown influences take a back seat to ’70s blues, with Anzio’s bass propelling the band on a chaotic, theatrical joyride through the Hollywood Hills.
In addition to Motown and British Invasion stylings, there is a noir undercurrent to Black Linen which keeps the record from becoming too cheery, tempering poppy hooks with a smoky haze and the taste of whiskey. The overall effect transports the LP to a 1966 homecoming dance set in a dive bar, with shadows lurking behind every love-struck couple.
On “Alone at Last,” Michael sings “we were young, but were wise as hell” with a bit of a wink and an awareness that nothing stands on its own. The magic of the record is held in this awareness, the eye to the past which cements it as a soulful paean to ’60s pop. Despite bowing down before the altar of the Beatles, Michael includes a few delicate modern twists which keep the album from devolving into a history lesson and prove that Black Linen will stand the test of time.
Black Linen perform tonight at the Drunken Unicorn where they’ll play in support of Together Pangea and White Reaper. Fellow locals Illegal Drugs open the show. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $10.
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Facebook: @blacklinenband
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