Part Of Black Mountain Struck By Lightning

03/29/07 6:00pm

by Antoinette Mercurio (CHARTattack)

What happens when you want something different-sounding from the band you play in? Simple, start another one.

That's what Amber Webber and Joshua Wells did. The Black Mountain members started a side project called Lightning Dust. Like Black Mountain, the duo are signed to Jagjaguwar, which will release their self-titled 10-track debut on June 19.

The disc was recorded in a dank cave and a bright blue house — convenient, since one of their tracks is called "Castles And Caves" — because Webber and Wells wanted to keep things simple by shedding the comforts of their familiar instruments and writing styles and letting their demons loose to create a haunting and spooky record.

Webber and Wells have been part of Black Mountain for years, but, when Webber started getting melodies dancing around in her head that wouldn't fit that group's space rock sound, she teamed up with Wells and his piano. Lightning Dust was born.

The duo are in the midst of planning a tour in June with pals The Cave Singers, but no dates have been confirmed.Webber and Wells will return to Black Mountain in time for a tour later this year. The Stephen McBean-led stoner rock band will release their sophomore LP in early 2008.

Here are the songs on Lightning Dust:
"Listened On"
"When You Go"
"Wind Me Up"
"Take Me Back"
"Jump In"
"Heaven"
"Castles And Caves"
"Highway"
"Breathe"
"Days Go By"