Queen at the guillotine

Also featured on All Songs Considered, Future Bible Heroes.

If you're not familiar with the group, here's a bit of what liz at Excellent Online had to say:

I think people often get confused by the many guises that Stephen Merritt shields himself in, I know I certainly do. The always haunting, never off-the-mark music of Mr. Merritt has entertained us as the Magnetic Fields, the 6ths, the Gothic Archies and yes, the Future Bible Heroes. Until this new release, The Bible Heroes were Stephen’s collaboration with Boston DJ Christopher Ewan. These two have now transformed into three with vocalist Claudia Gonson (Magnetic Fields contributor).

Music that can only be comprehended through headphones or the dark pounding of a club should be celebrated, and this album is no exception. [. . .] The goth tone to this record is a little disconcerting to me. It’s sparse, it’s dark... and perhaps a few songs too long (Can I actually say that about an album of 39 minutes?). There are highlights. I’m a Vampire is a surprising gem as Claudia deadpan’s Stephen’s off kilter lyrics (“I have all the love I need,/It is your blood I crave/I am the bitch goddess/from beyond your grave.”)

Yes, well, a good review tells you more about the reviewer than the ostensible subject. Or is that a bad review?

Never mind. Also also featured, Lanterna, from the new/upcoming cd, Sand. Which I couldn't find any info about whatsoever, but Parasol did list:

BRENDAN GAMBLE "Heartless Moon" (Mud Records) Solo debut by ex-Moon Seven Times' drummer/songwriter

CU Cityview has a brief review of that one:

Unfortunately, it took a painful divorce to encourage Gamble to pick up an acoustic guitar and write 13 mellow songs in the vein of Elliott Smith, Jackson Browne, Mark Kozelek and Nick Drake. Heartless Moon showcases Gamble—one-time drummer with The Poster Children, Moon Seven Times, June & the Exit Wounds and Shotgun Wedding—as a songwriter, by his lonesome. His tasteful songs are stripped to their bare essence, accompanied by sparse piano and drums. [. . .] For adults seeking an "emo" record, this is as real as it gets. Sure it’s a bit cliché, but then again so is life.

There's some sample tracks available at Parasol, for those of you who can do the Windows Media/.asx thing.

And yes.