THE PARADOX TWIN

PARADOX TWIN is this young group releasing their 2nd album after the brilliant 'The Importance of Mr Bedlam' released in 2018. This album traces the personal story of the singer who says he tore his soul to talk about his autistic son trying himself to live in our schizoid society. ANATHEMA, RIVERSIDE on the one hand and THE GATHERING or the SMASHING PUMPKINS were the bands that tipped to listen with a multitude of emotion, heavenly notes and intimate power; the vocal association of Danny and Nicole giving an oppressive and languid sensation then pulling on post-rock sounds. Let's see what it is about more precisely.

"Paradigm" floydian instrumental planing intro on a side of ALAN PARSONS, a little tonality for an intimate and atmospheric, dreamlike and meditative journey with a throbbing guitar allowing to introduce "Wake Vortex" and one of the radio "edit" , crystalline keyboard, dark voices for Danny and Nicole who reminds me of ANATHEMA (ah what I miss those about), the vibration goes off on the very good COMA ROSSI, the catchy chorus, limpid and heady to the times for a modern and inventive crossover where you have to think with your heart. "Sea of ​​ Tranquility" starts with an acoustic catchphrase with a long intro slowing down time; the disturbing, vibrant voice of Nicole, a ballad oozing with emotion, a harmonic change with crescendo; a moment of solitude between two children far from the world. "I Am Me I Am Free" and the first long title, Mellotron at the start plaintive, atmospheric synth reminding this time Daniel GILDENLÖW for the musical spleen, the drums impose a latent rhythm; the NASA station wagon adds a layer of it as the notes flow, dripping, oozing with nostalgia; ANATHEMA and the Acoquiné PURE REASON REVOLUTION and this spleen guitar with a killer riff reinforced by the bass, enjoyable I tell you since time does not count any more.

"Prism Descent" and the distressing atmo-voice-synthesizer opening, it leaves with a dramaturgy based on being stuck in a prism, a nightmare of course; the released emotion is jerky like turning back into it, not being able to escape from it. It's simple but it's beautiful, it's simple but functional, it brings me back to the scary sounds of cold wave here. "Haptic Feedback" continues on a bass drawn from the scary THE CURE, go a little KILLING JOKE or THE GATHERING too; the sound becomes more electric, the 80's are well placed then a guitar solo arrives amplified by the omnipresent synth; the rhythm therefore becomes hypnotic like the sound of O.S.Is; break with Nicole, a latent depressive voice which calms a little before a dark, heavy, distressing finale, with an imposing riff. "Specular" and the 2nd long track: emotional acoustic departure; the story of this child who does not find his place will therefore think and realize his death; a long climb to symbolize this gesture; from the 2 minutes the rhythm tells you that it is hopeless, inevitable; a repetitive side, melancholy at its height to represent the haunting emotion of the moment; halfway through the solo amplifies this psychological distress. The finale with the high-pitched voice as a transition to the beyond, to the fall? a title without devastating technique but with a progressive sound that makes you forget all that since you cry and the last piano notes do nothing to fix it. "Perfect Circles" always on the pompous piano, funeral march for these bubbles photographed before the last breath; the music gives a melodic account of this passage; a funeral hymn, the oxymoron as I like to discover it; there is ANTIMATTER in there for the cleared distress, the cyclic drums sink the pad on a final verbal joust. Be careful, if you feel the heat, you have also been drowned ...

The PARADOX TWIN is the new band to be counted on at the end of the year. This second opus is very emotional. No or few instrumental games but great crescendos leading to a lament, to an inevitable languid state of spleen where the lyricism is amplified. The battery does more by releasing even more energy. I say no more, I wanted to review it hoping for something other than accumulated notes, I am pleased to give a little window of the emotions that this album is likely to generate on your ears.

Still having the debut 'The Importance Of Mr Bedlam' on my review list ... oh, I terribly was in trouble in the light of this upcoming new release. Both albums are impressive, noted that initially. Okay then, finally my first choice went for the new one. THE PARADOX TWIN is fronted by multi-talented Danny Sorrell more or less. But this does not mean that every release comes in the same way concerning concept, sound or mood. Thematically the 2021 'Silence From Signals' draws from Sorrell's personal life experiences this time. Just presenting a tale, dealing with a complicated relationship of twin siblings, being neurotypical as well as neurodivergent. Sister and brother, what consequently will require a female vocal part too concerning the execution. This is excellently fulfilled by Nicole Johnson here. Some things have remained anyway, the experienced Diane Fox (bass) and Leland Freeman (guitars) are participating wih bravour again.

'Open your mind, and wait for me to come to your heart ..." the songs are made with emotive singer songwriter appeal in general. Already released beforehand as a single excerpt Wake Vortex comes as the album centerpiece. Sea Of Tranquility sees a lovely vocal interaction, afterwards gliding into I Am Me I Am Free due to a fine mellotron drenched transition. The closing Perfect Circles brings Graham Brown and his marching drums to the fore at the very end. 'Silence From Signals' is made of eight catchy songs, including empathic vocals, elaborated guitar as well as keyboard work, some heavy loaded impressions, and a proper amount of mellow balladesque moments. Overall a great production, partially close to Alex Henry Foster, furthermore the likes of Anathema, Pure Reason Revolution or The Pineapple Thief.