Silent Years - The Globe

  by Carl Bookstein

published: 9 / 12 / 2009

---

On the Silent Years’ latest album 'The Globe', which has just been released in the UK, pop atmospherics and ambitious rock soundscapes come together for a unique sonic achievement. The Silent Years’ thoughtful innovative indie rock songs transport the listener to another world. Simultaneously the lyrics of 'The Globe' alternate from insightful detail to the big picture of life on the planet. The Silent Years formed in Detroit, Michigan in late 2005. 'The Globe'is the first outing for a new line up of the band, which includes Josh Epstein on vocals, guitars and production; Michael Majewski on bass; Ryan Clancy on drums; Cassandra Verras on keyboards and violins and Fabian Halabou on guitar. Together they arise from the underground, putting forth an album that is large and powerful in scope. The production sensibility on these tunes is akin to work by the Beatles and the Beach Boys with a nod to Jeff Buckley- much thought and attention to painstaking detail was clearly put into 'The Globe'. The melodic direction here is well thought out and arranged with every note apparently there for a purpose. The album opener, 'Out into the Wild', starts with swirling sound that seems to come from overhead. Steady ominous drumming leads into keyboard and from there into the vocal. Layers of instrumentation combine with lush pop creation. 'On Our Way Home' begins with acoustic guitar and a soothing folk rock sound with a vocal by Josh Epstein, and ultimately develops into music that is almost orchestral. 'Climb on My Back” is a gritty number with the crunch of guitars and heavy drumming, alongside lyrical imagery that includes gathering falling raindrops and philosophizing on what Dostoevsky wrote about. Each song here possesses a different texture as they combine in an impressive accomplishment. With their moving evocative music, the Silent Years are anything but silent. 'Black Hole' has a low key very clear sound that builds instrumentally. Its lyrics are poetic: “I am patching holes with a thousand packs of chewing gum/Alcoholic speakers blasting a heroin malaise as I work.” 'The Sun is Alive' is an easy folksy tune with sonic loops and layers of reverberating sound. Its lyrics have a universal quality: “I’m out here alone, riding the globe, a lonely homesick soul/The sun is our shine/Its light dictates time/We’re all on the ride.” The church organ resonance that begins 'Goddamn You' flows into catchy melodic rock with avant-guard intonations. On 'The World’s Worst Birthday Gift' classic biblical lyricism combines with modern rock sound:“Even in Eden, evil snuck in with the snake.” Josh Epstein’s vocal here brings to mind the aching richness of the singing of Jeff Buckley. So much thought and work has clearly been put into the production of 'The Globe' and its wide array of sounds. For their efforts, the Silent Years reap great rewards.

Track Listing:-

1 Out Into the Wild
2 On Our Way Home
3 Climb on My Back
4 Black Hole
5 Ropes
6 The Sun is Alive
7 Goddamn You!
8 The World's Worst Birthday Gift
9 Aging Gracefully
10 The Axiom
11 Pay it Back
12 Open Up Our Eyes

Post A Comment

---

Comment

Name

your name

Location

ie London, UK

Submit

Check box to submit

Adam Coxon
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson

Dixie Ernill
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart

Malcolm Carter
Marie Hazelwood
Mark Rowland
Nick Dent-Robinson
Nicky Crewe
Nige Nudds
Philamonjaro
Richard Lewis
Shirley Procter
Spencer Robertshaw
Steev Burgess
Steve Kinrade

Steve Miles
Tommy Gunnarsson
Zena Grieg