My Silent Wake – Rare and Live Recordings, Vol. 1

My Silent Wake – Rare and Live Recordings,  Vol. 1
2011 – Dark Meadow Recordings

With most live albums, you either get a really raw, weak sounding performance or something that is completely overdubbed to make it sound better.  The latest release from My Silent Wake is neither.  The live portion of the album includes 4 songs recorded at a 2007 gig in North Sumerset (which was just their fourth gig as a band).  Three of the songs are from the bands first album Shadow of Sorrow (“Shadow of Sorrow”, “Lost” and “Hunting Season”) while the other song – “The Dying Things We’re Living For” – is from their second album, The Anatomy of Melancholy.  The sound quality of the songs is amazing.  You’re able to hear all of the parts – guitars, vocals, bass and drums – without any particular one being louder than the others.  And if you haven’t had the opportunity to listen to My Silent Wake live, then this is about as close as you can get.  There are some excellent guitar solos and the rhythm section doesn’t seem to miss a beat throughout the live performance.

The next four songs are part of the rare section.  The first is “Two Gods”, which is a cover of the British electronic/darkwave group Attrition.  The song is actually from the tribute album, titled Wrapped in the Guise of My Friend.  The band originally wanted to record “I Am (Eternity)” for the tribute album but since it was already taken, they recorded “Two Gods”.  They recorded “I Am” and released it on the split album with fellow British doomsters The Drowning.  The song itself is a very well done tribute.  They have the basic structure of the song while making the song their own at the same time.  Next comes one of the rarer songs – “November”.  This was recorded just after Shadow of Sorrow was completed.  It’s a haunting instrumental song.  The use of loops and the percussion add to the atmosphere.  You feel like you’re a part of a traveling caravan making their way through a cool, foggy November night.  Previously to its release on this album, only a few select people had heard it.  Following this is the song “Storm”.  This one has a different feel from the one released on the double album The Anatomy of Melancholy in such that this one doesn’t have any percussion.  So this gives it a more folksy and minstral feel to it.  The last song is “Shadow Reprise”.  This is song is similar to the one released on Shadow of Sorrow.  It was re-recorded to sound more like their live version, which has Kate playing the recorder.  It definitely has a very madrigal feel to it.  This is a great album of live and rare tracks from the band.  You’ll definitely want to pick this one up.

6.5 out of 7