160g audiophile black vinyl record housed in a 3mm matte jacket. Full color center labels. Black poly innersleeve. Shrinkwrapped. Edition of 200. Black Swan – From The End Of Time (Past Inside The Present, 2025)
Across the entirety of From the End of Time, the new album by Black Swan, an eerily desolate wind forms the base layer for swells of disembodied choirs, haunting piano, mangled tapes, and scores of other unplaceable, vividly textured sounds. According to the artist, its environment “is meant to evoke the aftermath of a collapsed society,” but does so while pulling every possible vestige of beauty from the ruins, with the reverent melancholy of a classical requiem.
Like previous album Ghost (2024), there is a distinct narrative arc to this hour-long experience, but its wayposts appear unhurriedly, as mesmerizing stretches of rippling hum give way to the sudden, plaintive quivers of old cassettes, or the rumble of industrial growls far in the distance. In contrast to that album and its purgatory aura, though, From the End of Time has a slowly beating heart, giving the vague sense of an indifferent sun that still shines, albeit through a deep, crimson haze.
“Overture” places the listener in this terrain with crescendoing, choral grandeur that reaches a cinematic peak, before quietly vanishing, cloaked in an uncertain mist. On “Back to Dust”, a lonesome organ motif curls and dimly shimmers across the debris field, breaking the narcotic tone but only opening the eye halfway. Throughout this first section of the album, there is a torch-lit search for resolution through blinding fog, while the sense of some aftershock seems always to be waiting at the edges.
“Pseudotruth” embodies this uncertainty, as a mechanical loop comes to life, accompanied by the remnants of a pealing voice trapped in static, calling out from nowhere, to no one in particular. “New Gods” offers a tonal shift, as a sprightly, automated piano flickers across the backdrop, and the entire scene evaporates into the muted twinkle of rust-ravaged windchimes, eliciting the uncanny echoes of bustling humanity.
These pieces emerged from the artist’s preoccupation with man’s loss of logic, ethics, and independent thought on a broad scale, as well as the effects of those things when exchanged through commercial means. Despite the grim reality of such trends, though, he finds room to sculpt his mournful textures into something blissed out, as on “Endless Infinite”, where a pair of alternating chords creates a whirl of pure, angelic ambience above a glowing bass drone, marking out the fraught moments of a new reality.
Similarly, “Wings of Oblivion” and “A Broken Hope” are shot through with a tenuous sweetness – in the context, the cautious mind wonders whether it might be salvation, or only a phantom. Untethered harmonic arrangements waft through waves of tape hiss and analog decay, making for one of the record’s most heartfelt passages of sheer beauty. Across the final stretch of From the End of Time, redemption grows ever further out of reach – the dark winds take over, the gears are clogged with grease, and the sky is choked with soot.
“Nightlands” combines gas mask breathing and a lonely cycle of heartsick harmony, reaching out from a cavernous depth, while “Lost Futures” closes the album with ambiguity, nevertheless serving as a spiritual bookend to its beginning. What remains in its wake is the complicated question of how to feel while witnessing the consumption of something once loved, and the loss of its promises. There may be cold comfort in the abstraction of memory, but by forecasting this bleak outcome, Black Swan allows us an aural meditation on death by a thousand cuts, with a cascade of affecting grace.
Written, recorded, produced, and mixed by Black Swan Mastered at Ambient Mountain House by James Bernard Design and layout by Black Swan
I got the mystery tape box specifically the "your getting tons of tapes" tier
and it didnt disappoint at all packaged securely overdelivered in the best way in terms of content and didnt take long to get here ,it was exciting to finally see what i got, genuinely made my day when it came in the post, a massive 22 tape package and so far every tape ive listened to has been really really good! Quality all the way, and if anyone was on the fence about getting it, well dont be, go for it you wont be disappointed .
Major respect to whoever curates the box, excellent choices!!
I Usually never leave reviews of things but this was worth doing it for.
I will definitely be buying this again no doubt about it and yeah just awesome really, very happy with it :)
It took a long time to arrive ( mainly because i put the wrong address😅) but overall its an amazing track. Thanking Cory from inner Amazing website and will buy more records from here.
The vinyl itself is very beautiful, and the sound is very punchy and clear! Of course all the tracks slap hard. Really great pressing, really great album!
I discovered the Bless Vol. 1 compilation a few years ago. Some of my favorite lo-fi artists were featured on it, and last year I reached out to the label hoping to get some of their releases.
Cory got in touch with me and personally made sure the record arrived safely. It sounds incredible, and the editions are beautifully produced.
Now I'm eagerly waiting for Vol. 1
Greetings from Argentina!
Really big fan. It’s a solidly built player and I think the aux-in recording function and ability to pair Bluetooth headphones/speaker is really unique, especially on the same device. I can’t speak to the Bluetooth pairing as I haven’t tested it out. I specifically was looking for an aux-in recording cassette player and this fit the bill perfectly. I tested this function and it sounds really great without completely losing the charm of a mic recording.
It was packaged perfectly! Everything that it came in was great, too!
HOWEVER, the page for this product does have a preview of all the songs ASSUMED to come with the album. This is not the case. This album comes with everything EXCEPT: September Rain (English Version)
With the previews available, I thought it'd be there. I was apparently missinformed. That is the ONE AND ONLY issue I have with my purchase. I wish they gave you the EXACT track list on the webpage. But like I said, that'd the only issue I had. Everything else was great.
I've been looking for an original copy of this album for a while at a price and quality that I was happy with. I was thrilled to find this on your website and couldn't pass up the opportunity to support you and support my unhealthy collection.
Excellent, can not recommend highly enough. My new go-to for Japanese import vinyl. Reasonable price, fast ship time. Will definitely be telling all 1 ½ of my friends interested in vinyl about Inner Ocean.
This album is truly fantastic. I have the cassette as well, it's so dynamic and interesting to listen to on both the turntable and in my case the player with headphones! blips is also just a very talented artist and incredibly kind person, sent me a short to make up for the shipping delay with the vinyl.
I can't say enough nice things about inner ocean and the artists on here. Interesting work from very talented people, great deals on buying multiple tapes and records, professional and kind customer service, I've honestly never had a bad transaction from inner ocean and I look forward to my next purchase! Thanks all!
Legit and amazing quality!!! These are my very first two vinyl albums and I just love how these two turned out! Would definitely recommend Inner Ocean Records to those who enjoy collecting vintage Japanese albums.
Most beautiful cassettes on earth as always. Every Inner Ocean release is an instant classic and everything I’ve ever ordered (cassettes, vinyl, merch) always comes quick and very well packaged. Best record label out!
Absolutely PHENOMENAL transaction, adding a piece of Casiopea history to my collection. Shipped fast, packed well, and Always a pleasure to do business with. Not my first Inner Ocean order, and FAR from my last! Again, many thanks to the IO crew!
I’m so glad to be able to have my favorite casiopea album on vinyl and it play wonderfully. Would say it got here quickly but alas the Canadian post strike happened not too long after I ordered it. But all in all I will definitely be ordering more from here.
Favorite Miki album. The added posted was wonderful surprise. Inner Ocean Records shipping and customer support is top notch. Can’t wait for my next purchase!
This is my first entry into the Lofi Snacks series after bumbling into the Inner Ocean label on Bandcamp and looking up their website. And my, what can I say other than it has been a delight! Really fresh vibey beats that sound great digitally on on my desk cassette player. The art is also fantastic and I love the print on the cassette itself. I've had this album on repeat since it arrived Monday. Look forward to exploring more of the Inner Ocean catalogue.
One of the greatest records in my collection! There are few legendary records that scratch the sonic itch this one does. Love the addition of the obi strip. Inner Ocean delivers greatness yet again!
