THE BLACK DOG - Silenced

For the uninitiated, a little background info wouldn’t go amiss. The Black Dog was a musical trio consisting of Andy Turner, Ed Handley, and Ken Downie, releasing a number of highly influential early IDM/techno albums throughout the nineties and into the 21st Century, notably Bytes, and Spanners. Turner and Handley then went on to record as Warp act, Plaid, whilst Downie continued the haemorraged project, following up with some less appealing works.

However, Silenced is certainly a huge return to form – although I’m still unsure if this is all Downie’s work or a collaborative effort. The Black Dog have always been an influential underground force, largely ignored by the mainstream press, but this puts them back on the map and should spark a well deserved renewal of interest in the project.

Silenced is certainly a lot more accessible than previous The Black Dog albums, beginning with the brilliant Trojan Horus (Part 1), a seething brew of dark, analogue pulses and flickering melodic tones. It’s expertly forged stuff, a beautifully vaporous opening treat. Yet, Silenced never looks back from this point, the album summons up 18 tracks, some of interlude length and a handful of lengthier recordings, which all flow beautifully, with lashings of brooding, evocative synths and programming that conjure up some delightful atmospheres and surprisingly accessible tunes.

Although not precisely in the same territory, Silenced reminds me of Boards Of Canada’s studio albums. It has the same flowing consistency, and each component, long or short, seems to fit in with the overall theme. It certainly transports itself into the psyche in a similar fashion.

Crisply produced too, Silenced grows on you with every play. If it builds up enough momentum and the scene opens its eyes and ears, this could be a contender for electronic album of the year. It’s certainly an absolute must for long-term fans of the project.



	THE BLACK DOG - Silenced
	8.8
	Dust Science ~ DUSTSND003 ~ September 2005
	For the uninitiated, a little background info wouldn’t go amiss. The Black Dog was a musical trio consisting of Andy Turner, Ed Handley, and Ken Downie, releasing a number of highly influential early IDM/techno albums throughout the nineties and into the 21st Century, notably Bytes, and Spanners. Turner and Handley then went on to record as Warp act, Plaid, whilst Downie continued the haemorraged project, following up with some less appealing works. However, Silenced is certainly a huge return to form – although I’m still unsure if this is all Downie’s work or a collaborative effort. The Black Dog have always been an influential underground force, largely ignored by the mainstream press, but this puts them back on the map and should spark a well deserved renewal of interest in the project. Silenced is certainly a lot more accessible than previous The Black Dog albums, beginning with the brilliant Trojan Horus (Part 1), a seething brew of dark, analogue pulses and flickering melodic tones. It’s expertly forged stuff, a beautifully vaporous opening treat. Yet, Silenced never looks back from this point, the album summons up 18 tracks, some of interlude length and a handful of lengthier recordings, which all flow beautifully, with lashings of brooding, evocative synths and programming that conjure up some delightful atmospheres and surprisingly accessible tunes. Although not precisely in the same territory, Silenced reminds me of Boards Of Canada’s studio albums. It has the same flowing consistency, and each component, long or short, seems to fit in with the overall theme. It certainly transports itself into the psyche in a similar fashion. Crisply produced too, Silenced grows on you with every play. If it builds up enough momentum and the scene opens its eyes and ears, this could be a contender for electronic album of the year. It’s certainly an absolute must for long-term fans of the project.