In Silhouette is one of
Ensemble Economique's most electronic releases, doing away with the shoegaze and psychedelic influences of previous albums and increasing the cinematic suspense. Opener "In the Clear Blue Waters of Memory" is 21 minutes of ghostly voices, distant thumps, and frazzled, jarring electronic tones supplied by
Jung An Tagen, whose excellent 2016 release on Editions Mego (
Das Fest der Reichen) featured a guest appearance by
Ensemble Economique. As the piece progresses, bells clash, tense synth-strings rise, and everything becomes more frantic and possessed, until the resonant bell tones are left at the end. "Gonna Get Right with God, Right After This Next Cigarette" contains deep, heartbeat-like pulsations along with a fragmented, echoed French female voice and swarms of brooding, hypnotic synths. "I Can See the Light, the Edge of Forever" tiptoes toward some form of enlightenment, but it's chased by ravenous wind and ominous rumbling. "You in the Horizon" is a glimpse at
EE's ritualistic side, with slow, hand-beaten drums circling around whispered lyrics about magic, enveloped by a glowing aura of golden light.
In Silhouette is another spellbinding work from
Brian Pyle. ~ Paul Simpson