Silent Land Time Machine have entered the music scene, in an almost silent fashion, with their first album &hope still. The one man band from Austin, Texas, who recorded this release over a period of three years, has done something really special with the three-quarters of an hour he has our attention. Earthy, realistic optimism seeps out of &hope still with every passing second.
“Everything Goes to Shit” opens the album with an organic sound comprised of a strong, persistent beat surrounded by instruments, such as a guitar, violin and accordion, that can’t help but make the ears happy. This song also introduces the listener to one aspect of Silent Land Time Machine that is so very special. About halfway through the track, the instruments...well...go to shit, and begin to play in a pseudo-chaotic fashion. The emphasis on pseudo, while these instruments may for a second sound chaotic they are actually all controlled and very well at that, an effect that lends itself very well to the “hope” found in this music.
A little more than halfway through the album the listener is introduced to “Electronic Transmissions”, a track showing just how well this band can handle layering their music to create an interesting mixture of aural sensations. The song is one of only a few on the album that uses field recordings and vocals to get its message across. From chanting near the opening to the omnipresent guitar to the use of the accordion, everything makes progress, and does a wonderful job of taking the listener along with it on a journey that lasts less than four minutes.
Wrapping up the release is “Copper Pot Topography”, the longest track on the effort, but also the most disorganized and intriguing piece. This is one of those songs that changes each time you hear it, but still manages to retain its hopefulness and wonder. The track covers so much ground in over ten minutes of playing time that one can’t possibly do it justice with words.
What really separates this release from others of its kind is not the instrumentation, which is done beautifully throughout, nor is it the catchy vocals strategically added to keep things interesting. Rather, it is the organization; from the opening guitar strum to the very last moment of this release everything is laid out in a smart, controlled and inviting fashion. Music that deals with optimism is a difficult thing to do well, because it requires such control over every aspect of the sound. While Silent Land Time Machine have control over their sound in &hope still, one can’t help but wonder if this was beginner's luck, or if the one man show simply is just that good. Only time will show what the case may be, but for now we should be lucky to have such a beautiful release.
-Erich Meister