The Silent Type do the push/pull yawn of post rock in a solid and calm fashion. It's not to say they don't play with your heartstrings, it's just they play with the ones you already know well. Mushy sentimentality, pining heartache and wide expansive melancholy - that's the opener, Kneel.
The voice of Nathan Altice is occasionally and distantly accompanied by Amber Blakenship. It all makes me yearn for more good duets ala Conor and Emmylou or even Nick and Kylie. The Silent Type set you up for a giant, orchestral album with Kneel but then they rest back on their pop chops for Ink and Blood. The recurring riff flicks in and out and the rhythm section mimic it until a wonderful pop hook slides over the top. Imagine Morrissey and Crowded House bookending Starflyer 59 and you've got it.
Vacant Hotel Lobby takes a simple ballad and bends it with gentle, persuasive bitterness - Altice makes you want to understand, to sit down and listen a while.
The Silent Type take the obvious emotions of loneliness and heartache and make them special treasures to lock away.
