Oct 26 : "Fall Protection" - The Silence Kit (Philly)

New Music / Freshly Written & Recently Released (OCTOBER 26!)

Philly Music!

EASING THE FALL

NEWS ::: NEWS ::: NEWS ::: NEWS ::: Philly post-punk band The Silence Kit just released a new album today, "Fall Protection"! Fans of The Silence Kit won't be disappointed; this is another great album! All of the familiar qualities of the band's music are there, coming from the deep and dark, and talking about the complexities of life and relationships.

I think the first time I saw The Silence Kit perform must have been back in 2006 or 2007. I'm pretty sure it was at Khyber. "Sea of My Discretion" was one of their most popular songs at the time. It came from the album "In Regulated Measure".

So how is the music on today's new album changed from my first time seeing them at Khyber? There have been changes in the instrumentals as well as the vocals and lyrics.

One of the unique qualities of the band when I first heard them was Pat McCay's vocals. They were always very much front and center, more than you would experience with other bands and their lead singers. The instrumentals were plain and stark which enhanced the materials in the lyrics and vocals as the characters in the songs tried to deal with their introspection and sometimes anguish.

Moving forward to 2014 with the release of the album named "Watershed", we hear fuller instrumentals complementing the vocals, but the vocals were still the main front and center. There was much more complexity in the instrumental arrangements including some faster beats.

And fast forward to "Fall Protection", the album being released today. This album continues and builds upon the more complex instrumental arrangements that we heard in "Watershed". One song with a unique structure is "Worry".

As a general broad brushstroke impression of the new album, I think the arrangements and sound mixing as a whole have the prominence of the vocals receding ever so slightly. The instrumentals are moving forward. They're more than just the background accompaniment that we heard in 2007. In this album the instrumentals are out there demanding attention on their own.

Another difference and broad brushstroke impression that I observe in "Fall Protection" revolves around the content of the lyrics themselves. While the characters in a number of the songs are still experiencing complex and tumultuous life situations, the characters in the new songs at least see a few options in life (which is why I subtitled this writeup "Easing the Fall"), whereas the characters in the earlier songs felt less hope and maybe fewer choices (retroactively in comparison might have labeled their writeup "Freefall"). The characters in the new songs have a realization that a less drastic alternative to what they're facing might exist. (But, don't worry, Silence Kit fans, it's still dark!)

I think the the best example on the new album that illustrates that transition in attitude or awareness is in the song, "Can We Skip This", which is the fourth track on the new album. Take a listen :::

Here is the link to the album where you can hear and download all eleven songs ::: "Fall Protection" by The Silence Kit (CLICK HERE).

And, while the band doesn't have any shows coming up in the next few weeks, here is the click to the band's Facebook page, where you can keep an eye on everything! The Silence Kit on Facebook (CLICK HERE)".