The English/French duo Angle impressed with 2003's mini album/EP 'Silence Is Better Than Nothing', their own fragile take on the electronica scene. The follow-up is - if anything - even more fragile and minimalist, lending these songs an eerie, darker edge. Andrew Richards vocals now benefit from a huskiness whilst Sylvian Cloister's electronics are more sparse than ever. Infact, sometimes the instrumentation is so subtle the melodies are barely there at all. So it's no coincidence that the better songs are the ones which are comparatively busy in execution, with the twinkling guitars of 'Sell Your Toes' and the enticing grungy coda to 'Breakdown' being the major highlights. Because of its apparent coldness, this is an album that is easy to respect but harder to love.
The English/French duo Angle impressed with 2003's mini album/EP 'Silence Is Better Than Nothing', their own fragile take on the electronica scene. The follow-up is - if anything - even more fragile and minimalist, lending these songs an eerie, darker edge. Andrew Richards vocals now benefit from a huskiness whilst Sylvian Cloister's electronics are more sparse than ever. Infact, sometimes the instrumentation is so subtle the melodies are barely there at all. So it's no coincidence that the better songs are the ones which are comparatively busy in execution, with the twinkling guitars of 'Sell Your Toes' and the enticing grungy coda to 'Breakdown' being the major highlights. Because of its apparent coldness, this is an album that is easy to respect but harder to love.
print this review
email this review