Greatness typically slips up on you unexpectedly. Silent Skies proves that. You could go into this album anticipating a gossamer-thin music cycle that quantities to little greater than well-produced Muzak. You’re thoughts shall be modified from that notion from the primary music: There’s one thing else happening right here. Tom Englund and Vikram Shankar, a Swede and American-based pianist/composer respectively, take pleasure in a degree of artistic synergy that few different musical partnerships ever attain. They’re stalwart members of different acts, Englund with Evergrey, whereas Shankar performs an vital function in tasks akin to Redemption and Lux Terminus. Completely different aspects of their persona and ability emerge over the course of Dormant’s 13 songs.

It’s their third album beneath this identify and it reveals development over earlier releases Nectar (2022) and Satellites (2020). “Assemble” is the primary proof that Shankar and Englund have tied the promising strands of Silent Skies’ prior tasks collectively in a vivid and sensible tapestry that exceeds what have come earlier than it. Their ambient atmospherics may meander within the fingers of lesser skills, however Silent Skies directs the association with alert urgency. Englund’s vocals hit extra like private testimony fairly than mere singing.

That attribute elevates the second observe “New Life”. Shankar solutions with mesmerizing piano work that stays neck and neck with Englund’s vocals vying for the listener’s focus. It’s certainly one of Dormant’s full packages. It’s notable, as properly, how the duo makes such an affect with out ever belaboring their songs. “Church buildings” has deep emotional resonance and has a man-in-the-mirror second of attempting to know love gone incorrect. “Simply Above the Clouds” has a little bit of a non secular tone, talking about rising above the concern, noise and violence of this world.  It’s an digital pop symphony in miniature additional strengthened by an particularly uplifting Englund vocal. He traverses better emotional heights right here than elsewhere on the album; that is no small factor.

He ups the ante much more with “Reset”. The irresistible longing aglow within the coronary heart of this type is its marquee aspect, however Shankar buttresses that craving with a complementary musical association that fleshes out the complete vary of the music’s want. It’s an involving and clever piece that, like the remainder of the album, doesn’t exhaust its prospects with a single hear. “The Actual Me” continues leaning on presumably autobiographical songwriting for its artistry. It’s by no means obscure, nevertheless. Englund’s writing faucets into common experiences whereas culling its reflections from the pages of his life. It’s a talented balancing act that reaches one other zenith with this minimize.

The singer/songwriter slant of this assortment could get misplaced within the gentle of its sensible sonic sheen. Songs akin to “Mild Up the Darkish”, nevertheless, are unmistakable examples from this songwriting college, notably of their reliance on a first-person perspective. His gratitude for the music’s topic and their transformative impact on his current and future virtually throbs with romance, however by no means in trite juvenile style. It’s as refined and demanding, each lyrically and musically, as any music included on Dormant.

The ultimate music, sans bonus tracks, is “The Final on Earth”. Thunderous percussion isn’t omnipresent in the course of the observe, however it makes an unlimited distinction when it makes its presence felt. Quasi-symphonic ambitions are obvious as soon as once more and juxtaposing it in opposition to one other excellent lyric and vocal makes for a jaw-dropping finale. Silent Skies’ third album Dormant, by any definition, qualifies as a murals. 

Mindy McCall