When you think of Bordeaux France, you think of wine. It's definitely not a city or region known for breeding international music sensations, but that might very well change in a hurry if Silentclock has anything to say about it. This young band has just released their debut album on the Musea label entitled Elephants and Porcelain, and I can tell you that if you're a fan of Radiohead, Coldplay or Porcupine Tree then you're going to love what these guys are doing on this twelve song disc.
Revealing a certain level of sophistication in these lush sounding melodies and superbly crafted arrangements that go beyond their years, the listener is taken on a magical, hour long journey. Wrapped around the meticulously layered guitar passages, understated keyboard textures and driving rhythms you have the warm and emotive sounding vocals of a gentleman who goes by the name of Baptiste. His voice, which bares more than a subtle resemblance to Tom Yorke and Bruce Soord is so smooth and inviting it just feels like the perfect companion for that rainy Sunday afternoon. For someone whose mother tongue isn't English I have to say that he does a fantastic job throughout and only in a few places can you detect the slightest hint of an accent. Track after track the killer hooks and melodies come flying at you fast and furious revealing their affinity for Euro-pop luster. The bouncy drum patterns and catchy chorus on "I Used To Ride It Out" is so darned infectious you'll be humming it long after the music is over. Saving the best for the last they slip the listener a bit of curve ball with the ten minute "Colours" which surprisingly doesn't feel the least bit out of place with the rest of the album. The song begins with a dreamy, repetitive, Pink Floyd style keyboard and guitar melody as the track gradually unfolds into a warm n' fuzzy cocoon of audiophile bliss. Highlighted by a plethora of shimmering keyboard passages and some amazingly fluid and crisp sounding guitar solos, this composition will have you wondering if maybe David Gilmour performed on this one incognito.
After the first couple of tracks their lush melodies and mature sounding arrangements made an instant connection with me so it didn't take long to get a pretty good idea that Elephants And Porcelain was going to be an enjoyable listening experience. However, there was no way for me to be fully prepared for how good this disc really is because in all honesty there is nary an ounce of filler to be found anywhere on this album. Silenclock's first effort is a compelling one and it's scary to think how much better these guys could get with a few more albums under their belt. Until that time though, sit back and enjoy repeated doses of Elephants And Porcelain. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.
Track Listing
1) 5,6,7
2) My Demons
3) High
4) We Are
5) I Used To Ride It Out
6) Let Down
7) Stand For Benefit
8) Heavenly Voices
9) Nothing Else- But A Dream
10) Endless Electrical Motion Soundtrack
11) Colours
12) That Kind Of Romance
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