Author: Richard Cosgrove
London's Electroclash scene has been gathering momentum for a couple of years now, with the Ju Ju Babies leading the pack and the likes of Gene Serene and Fist Fuck Deluxe providing solid backup, but with the release of their debut EP, Silence Is Sexy have effortlessly elevated themselves to the top of the electroclash pops.
Silence Is Sexy consist of Sebastian and Tara, and while Sebastian may be the brains behind the band, writing the songs, playing the keyboards and coming across on stage like a teutonic sex god (for he hails from Germany, but has spent the last few years in London), it is the interaction between the two of them that elevates this band to the higher plateau of synth pop.
The sexual tension that is played out during their live shows, with each furtive glance, each nonchalant brush of the hand over the other's body, and the tightly choreographed, yet easily played out dance routines that they occasionally indulge in, make them compelling viewing in the way that Kraftwerk and London's own Greenhaus are not. The latter two may be great bands, and I speak as a fan of both, but entertaining on stage they are not.
All of this live entertainment, however, becomes insignificant when we turn to the matter of their debut eponymous EP, and how it sounds on your stereo at home without the visual accompanyment. Thankfully the five songs on offer here do stand up to aural scrutiny, kicking off with "In Electro, Baby", which comes creeping from the speakers like the bastard child of Visage and Sparks, both dark and brooding, and with a sense of theatre that comes from the interplay of Sebastian's smooth vocals and Tara's soulful and seductive backing.
Next up is "Glamour Boy", giving Tara the lead vocals over a scissor-kicking synth line and pounding Euro-disco beat. "They say he's just a nancy boy," Tara informs us as Sebastian plays gender games, proclaiming "boy, I like you" while also being Tara's "favourite toy", all the while exuding the nonchalance that is ever present in their live shows. "Pioneer Ten" follows and is reminiscent of Alphaville's finest work ("Big In Japan" was just the tip of their iceberg, an introduction to a wealth of synthisised treasures for those willing to dig a little deeper). A sprawling landscape of dreamy synths and superb vocals, this is one of those songs that gets better and better every time you hear it, revealing hidden depths on repeat listenings.
"King and Queen" is the most accessible track on the EP, complete with pulsing rhythms and a huge chorus full of pomp and majesty and will be the track that you'll return to again and again intially before you grow into "Pioneer Ten". The EP winds up with "Perfect Dream", conjouring up images of Depeche Mode covering Dead Or Alive's "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)" and is the EP's only so-so tune, which when you consider the quality of the other tracks is no criticism. After all, if you hit 100% with your first release, then where else to go?
Silence Is Sexy have laid the foundations for a killer first full album here, which with their flamboyant and entertaining live shows will guarantee them some serious media attention in the coming months.
London's Electroclash scene has been gathering momentum for a couple of years now, with the Ju Ju Babies leading the pack and the likes of Gene Serene and Fist Fuck Deluxe providing solid backup, but with the release of their debut EP, Silence Is Sexy have effortlessly elevated themselves to the top of the electroclash pops.
Silence Is Sexy consist of Sebastian and Tara, and while Sebastian may be the brains behind the band, writing the songs, playing the keyboards and coming across on stage like a teutonic sex god (for he hails from Germany, but has spent the last few years in London), it is the interaction between the two of them that elevates this band to the higher plateau of synth pop.
The sexual tension that is played out during their live shows, with each furtive glance, each nonchalant brush of the hand over the other's body, and the tightly choreographed, yet easily played out dance routines that they occasionally indulge in, make them compelling viewing in the way that Kraftwerk and London's own Greenhaus are not. The latter two may be great bands, and I speak as a fan of both, but entertaining on stage they are not.
All of this live entertainment, however, becomes insignificant when we turn to the matter of their debut eponymous EP, and how it sounds on your stereo at home without the visual accompanyment. Thankfully the five songs on offer here do stand up to aural scrutiny, kicking off with "In Electro, Baby", which comes creeping from the speakers like the bastard child of Visage and Sparks, both dark and brooding, and with a sense of theatre that comes from the interplay of Sebastian's smooth vocals and Tara's soulful and seductive backing.
Next up is "Glamour Boy", giving Tara the lead vocals over a scissor-kicking synth line and pounding Euro-disco beat. "They say he's just a nancy boy," Tara informs us as Sebastian plays gender games, proclaiming "boy, I like you" while also being Tara's "favourite toy", all the while exuding the nonchalance that is ever present in their live shows. "Pioneer Ten" follows and is reminiscent of Alphaville's finest work ("Big In Japan" was just the tip of their iceberg, an introduction to a wealth of synthisised treasures for those willing to dig a little deeper). A sprawling landscape of dreamy synths and superb vocals, this is one of those songs that gets better and better every time you hear it, revealing hidden depths on repeat listenings.
"King and Queen" is the most accessible track on the EP, complete with pulsing rhythms and a huge chorus full of pomp and majesty and will be the track that you'll return to again and again intially before you grow into "Pioneer Ten". The EP winds up with "Perfect Dream", conjouring up images of Depeche Mode covering Dead Or Alive's "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)" and is the EP's only so-so tune, which when you consider the quality of the other tracks is no criticism. After all, if you hit 100% with your first release, then where else to go?
Silence Is Sexy have laid the foundations for a killer first full album here, which with their flamboyant and entertaining live shows will guarantee them some serious media attention in the coming months.
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