The stark CD cover for Silversky's EP "Calling All Killers" comes complete with a heavily-stylised emo-like androgynous being glaring out, toting what look suspiciously like pistols of some kind (perhaps the "daytime freak/night-time sinner" of the title-track?). It's rather appropriate for the darkly morose lyrical content and pulsing aggression that course through the three tracks. The band, a London-based amalgam, have been described as a fusion of the Pixies and Nirvana with the vocal delivery and lyrical despondency of Morrisey. The opening track, "Calling All Killers" is a scuzzy riot, with a throbbing bass (not unlike the "Stupid As Wood" by Victorian English Gentlemens Club, but without the quirky invention) and dark lyrics that act like a worrying call to arms for all murderers out there: "They can only betray you/calling all the killers/justify your name". It's not particularly innovative but it's tightly performed and avoids falling into the vocal histrionics trap so favoured by Morrisey. The same can't be said for the second track, "We Should Be Dead", another jolly jaunt through sunshine-bathed parkland with bunny-rabbits and gambolling lambs for company. The Morrisey influence raises it rather ugly head (I've always found the Mancunian idol to be an acquired, and thus for me 'un-acquirable', taste). The lyrics, "I wish we could die together/silence would ring forever/this all we have to share", suggest a broken heart of the blackest kind, but otherwise the track is one that flashes by without too much of a fuss.
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The final track, "Bare", with its acoustic guitar broken chords, sounds like an attempt at variety. At least it does until the ever-present throbbing bass and chugging guitar buzz resurface. The lyrical content, which concerns more bitter relationship difficulties ("I have nothing left to give you/and love won't pay the rent"), hints at a budding imagination behind the Steven Patrick M. aping and dingy grunge-mongering, although this isn't particularly difficult coming on the back of the two previous tracks. Indeed, the proclaimed "staunchly poetic lyrics [...] voiced both eloquently and elegantly", although occasionally evident, also occasionally fall flat; such is the case in the rather unfortunate line which marries "geezer" with "Julius Caesar".
Otherwise the EP is a pretty well-delivered, snarly collection of anger, bitterness and spittle, devoid of any real hope or redemption. If that's the kind of thing you like, then look no further.
www.myspace.com/silverskymusic
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