A Silent Sound: Compass

You can bet when three members of the Netherlands’ progressive rock band Sky Architect get together it will be pure quality. That is exactly what you get with A Silent Sound and their debut album Compass. Tom Luchies (concept, music, arrangements, guitars, vocals, electric piano, percussion), Christiaan Bruin (drums, pitched percussion) and Rik Van Honk (horns, Moog synthesizer) are joined by Auke Haaksma (bass guitars) and Linda Baur (piano).

Pretty acoustic guitar arpeggios and peaceful lead vocals begin the pastoral and mournful “Setting Foot On The Hills�. It’s quite a poignant offering and a very good opening track. The ethereal and almost trippy “Lake Okaru� features more acoustic guitar, this time the tone is a bit ethnic and slightly folky. The guitar work is excellent before larger rhythms crash with dramatic flair as electric and acoustic guitar make a great tandem. With “City One�, the first of three ‘City’ tracks, the sound hints at Beardfish and maybe a bit of Steven Wilson as mellow acoustic parts and Floydian electric guitar ending with trippy atmospherics will take you on quite a voyage. The lead and backing vocals are outstanding here with the former having a hint of ELO. Delicate acoustic guitar and dreamy vocals are sublime in the softly played “Dark Night’s Rising�, that is until complex rhythms and more aggressive tendencies up the tempo. With “On The Ground� the music veers in a more pop direction yet still having some delightful guitar work. The well-crafted melodies combined with stellar musicianship is a highlight throughout Compass. One of the better new bands I have heard recently and one I will certainly keep an eye on. Recommended.

Track Listing:
1. Setting Foot On The Hills
2. Lake Okaru
3. City One
4. City Two
5. Dark Night’s Rising
6. On The Ground
7. The Road
8. City Three
9. Sunset On An Island
10. Love Song
11. The Returnee
12. Home

Added: November 29th 2018
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band's Official Site
Hits: 1497
Language: english

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