The project Silence was created in 1996 by guitarist/keyboardist Bruno Levesque and, after recording numerous instrumental albums, a new chapter in Silence's existence began in 2008 with the arrival of singer Ben Venet, leading up to the audacious 2012 release of two albums at once, entitled 'City (Days)' and 'City (Nights)'.

'City (Days)'

'Beggar's Day' rocks the album to life and leaves me undecided at this early point on my reflection of the band's musical approach. The commercial aspect kicks in on 'Father', with a heavily slanted '80s influence leaping outta the speakers on a grand scale, and talking bout the good ol' eighties 'Footprints' reeks of this period with its Americanized inspiration - but that was then and this is now, although it should be stated the harmonies and structure of the tracks are good enough to pass any AOR aficionado's musical test and the overall production is great.

'Brand New Start' throws out a kinda Tom Petty vibe to a certain extent, with some effective melodic vocals and instrumental progressions. 'Jenny' sees another instant commercial approach with its U2-esque beat of sorts while 'Guardian Angel' finds the harping back in time again taking control of the tune, but ever so likeable still the same. The summer dazed jangly feel on 'The End Of The Day' is extremely endearing to the ear and this continues into 'Lift Me Up', a song that slowly evolves with its beautiful melodies and bouncy keyboard progression. That U2 influence introduces 'Daydreaming' but the similarity in songwriting between tracks is becoming increasingly repetitive as the first part of this dual Silence attack comes to its conclusion with 'Business' and 'Waiting For Dawn (Lullaby)', with the latter a passable neat slice of balladry to bring the end of Days.

                                                                                 
'City (Nights)'

Nights fades in rocking it to the hilt with a great piece of riffage any six stringer would love to possess on 'Drifting Away'. A slightly more modern approach emerges on 'Ghosts', taking influence from a varied range of genres that give the band, for me, their first sniff at musical originality.

'Taste Of The Past' screams out an overt Whitesnake inspiration from their classic late '80s period whilst 'Crashing Down' maintains the level of songwriting to an acceptable level, but still leans far too heavily on the past. The guys seem more than happy to beg, borrow or steal influence from elsewhere, as on 'Memory Of Blue Eyes' and the acoustic driven 'Someday' - answers on a postcard to nowhere in particular as to where that guitar riff came from on 'Insomnia'.

The tracks are starting to blend into one now with the 1980s theme taking too much prevalence to their own non-attempt at musical originality as performed, maybe, to the best of their abilities and personal happiness for the almost tribute element to their material on tunes like 'Promised Land', 'Just One Kiss On Your Heart' and 'Out Of The Dream', the end of 'City (Nights)' drawing in with the near retro '(Goodbye To) The Good Old Days'.

Overall a brave and listenable couple of records for an Adult Orientated rock release.. but....

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