Review by LEVI DOBBIE

Mandurah based instrumental outfit, THE SILENT WORLD penetrated the Perth music scene last year with their hypnotizing sound and prolific touring, rounding out 2010 with the release of their second EP ‘An Eye For An Ear’.

The five track offering, rears into life with ‘Interior Semiotics’ – a jaunty piece with a jazzy tempo intertwined with more ambient break downs and careful guitar work. The feel of the track is continued and expanded in ‘Average Looking Girlfriend’ - a tongue-in-cheek trip through 80’s electronic music with a bouncing main riff and meticulously constructed layers of bass, guitar and drums.

‘An Eye For An Ear’ continues exploring different paths with ‘Dick Dawkins’, ‘Oklahoma’ and an untitled closing track. As the songs come and go a coherent picture is painted by the similarities found in each track. There is a very carefully cultivated sound at work with every note and chord progression exactly where it’s needed. No more and no less. The instruments are varied and precise, carrying the listener on a wave of fuzzy bass lines and tinkering keys.

By the closing track, which is preceded by a brief pause, there is a feeling of completion and coming full circle. One could almost picture credits starting to roll as the slow build launches into an assault of military-like snare drumming and repetition of a theme. Before too long, the sounds begin to blur together and some of the cohesion is lost, which creates a somewhat messy or panicked feel. This doesn’t take away from ‘An Eye For An Ear’ as a whole, but it does stop the later sections of the song being vital listening.

The Silent World have created an inspiring collection of songs with ‘An Eye For An Ear’ and have shown that just as much meaning and beauty can be injected into six minutes of instrumental music as can any genre. Each track has something significant to offer and more importantly, works with and upon one another to make a cohesive, precise and interesting half hour.