The Third Eye

Black Snake Moan, a one-man band led by Italian songwriter Marco Contestabile, is set to release a new record, Lost In Time, on May 24th. The project is a unique blend of blues and psychedelic rock, and it draws inspiration from a diverse range of artists, resulting in a sound rich with spiritual evocation. Marco describes Black Snake Moan as a “sound research project with deep roots in the atmospheres of blues and psychedelic rock.”

Lost In Time takes listeners on a journey through the vastness of the desert, a landscape characterized by dry, sunny days and dark, cold nights. This thematic coherence is not coincidental, as Marco’s homeland, the land of the ancient Etruscans, is steeped in mystery and a belief in the afterlife and supernatural. This connection to his roots adds depth to the album’s sound.

Marco says the misty paths in his homeland connect with the eternal echo of the spirituality of the Southwestern United States and the deserts of Native Americans. “Born under the sign of reverb, Black Snake Moan accompanies the listener on an inner journey punctuated by ancestral, intense, and evocative echoes,” Marco says, and it’s easy to believe him.

In Black Snake Moan, Marco handles all the instruments, including drums, guitar, vocals, and keyboard. The new album, Lost In Time, will be a joint release via the excellent Echodelick and Pisa, Italy-based Area Pirata Records.

The record starts with “Dirty Ground,” a short track that sounds every bit as dirty as the title suggests. I mean that in the sense that you can almost hear the dust and grime of Marco’s desert climate, with the bluesy guitar punctuated by his hazed-out, baritone vocals. “Light The Incense” is one of the singles off the record, and while he makes a direct request to us, the rest of the track is more suggestive of his spiritual connection to his ancestors. I like to think the song was made with tons of incense burning in the studio, though.

“Come On Down” is another shorter song. Up to this point, all the tracks are less than four minutes. This brevity can be unusual in the psychedelic underground at times, but it’s refreshing. Like the previous songs, Black Snake Moan captures a vibe that’s a cross between All Them Witches and fellow Italian psych-heads Thomas Greenwood & The Talismans. It’s not too heavy, nor is it too soft. It strikes a great balance between psych-trance and harder-edged rock ‘n roll.

“Shade Of The Sun” runs past five minutes and starts with an incredibly bluesy segment, including an acoustic guitar that would feel at home in the dusty plains of West Texas. The kinship with the Southwestern U.S. is evident here, with Marco singing in English and the aforementioned grimy blues. However, Black Snake Moan lays down his unique European spin on it, tapping into his ancestral roots and conjuring melodies like a snake charmer.

“Sunrise” lasts less than three minutes, featuring another dirty and mean guitar riff and Marco’s shamanistic vocals. Midway through, the song picks up tempo and volume like a nomad racing through the desert and entranced by a mirage. 

“Put Your Flowers” is interesting because of the guitar tone, which feels different than most other tracks. It’s a bit brighter and not as dirty as we’re used to. The song is also more up-tempo and features a broader array of sounds than most other tracks on Lost In Time, especially the prominent keyboards.

“West Coast Song” had me thinking about the U.S. West Coast, but that makes sense since I’m an American. I believe Black Snake Moan is referring to something else. The song has the same dreamy quality as the rest of the record, although the percussion sounds different and more tribal.

Black Snake Moan ends the desert journey fittingly with “Cross The Border.” The incense has been lit and is nearing the end, Marco’s long quest is over, but you may want to re-light the incense and listen to the record again.

Lost In Time is a fun, spacey record that distills the sounds of Black Snake Moan’s specific region and throws in psychedelic and blues rock for good measure. The main point of reference for the record is likely Thomas Greenwood’s recent Ates, which probably makes sense. Italian rock musicians like to say their country isn’t a great place for rock music, but I’m beginning to believe they’re just being humble. If a record like Lost In Time from Black Snake Moan can come out of Italy, they must be doing something right.

If you like Lost In Time, check out Black Snake Moan’s previous work, including his debut 2017 record, Spiritual Awakening. Enjoy!

Check out Lost In Time by Black Snake Moan on Bandcamp here.

You can support Black Snake Moan by finding him on Bandcamp or social media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube).

Support Echodelick Records by finding them on Bandcamp, their official website, or Instagram.

Support Area Pirata Records by finding them on Bandcamp, their official website, or Instagram.

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