THE SILENCE

The Silence biography
The Silence are a Japanese psychedelic rock band formed by guitarist/acupuncturist Masaki Batoh in late 2014, immediately after the disbanding of his long-running group Ghost. Signed to Drag City Records, the Silence have released five full-length records and one compilation album. More poppy and less lysergic and atmospheric than Ghost, the Silence mine inspiration from American psychedelic and garage rock while balancing influences from progressive folk and krautrock.

Batoh organised the Silence with Acid Mothers Temple drummer Okano Futoshi, who played for Ghost in 1996, and subsequently recruited fellow Ghost collaborator and keyboardist Kazuo Ogino, saxophonist Ryuichi Yoshida (of Satoko Fujii Orchestra Tokyo) and bassist Jan Stigter (of Jan and Naomi). This lineup would remain stable until the Silence's fourth album, Metaphysical Feedback, by which time Ogino departed the band and bassist Yamazaki Taiga replaced Stigter.

The Silence's eclectic style of psych rock will appeal to fans of Kikagaku Moyo, Can, Gnidrolog, Jade Warrior, Gong, Le Orme, Acid Mothers Temple and King Crimson.