“In the Shadow of the Moon” is the first single from The Salt Collective’s upcoming album, A Brief History of Blindness. The song pairs the voices of Mike Mills (R.E.M.) and Lynn Blakey (Tres Chicas, Let’s Active) in a duet inspired by the 2024 solar eclipse, encompassing “cosmic mystery and quiet personal reflection.”

The song features cellos, trumpets, and flutes, creating a chamber-Pop soundscape that sets the tone for the album’s overall aesthetic.

About the single, Mills remarks:

It’s always a joy to hear Lynn sing, and getting to sing with her on a song as good as this one was a real pleasure.

A Brief History of Blindness is a follow-up to Life, the 2023 album debut from French songwriter-guitarist Stéphane Schück’s international collaborative project, The Salt Collective. The new album is an “exploration of hope, memory, and resilience” that features contributions from Aimee Mann, Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Andy Partridge (XTC), and Matthew Caws (Nada Surf), among others. A Brief History of Blindness is being released on 12” LP vinyl, CD, digital download, and streaming services by Propeller Sound Recordings on November 21, 2025.

While the Salt Collective’s first outing was recorded remotely with many vocalists and instrumentalists working separately on multiple continents at different times, A Brief History of Blindness features the core musicians gathered in the same space interacting together in real time.

The bulk of the music was laid down by Rob Ladd (The Connells) on drums, Gene Holder (The dB’s) on bass, Stéphane Schück on guitars & sound design, Mitch Easter (Let’s Active) on guitars, and Wes Lachot on organ, piano, and Nord. These full-band sessions took place at the Fidelitorium (Kernersville, NC), with other work at Studio Ferber (Paris), and various home studios. The album was produced by Chris Stamey and mastered by Dave McNair.