A Silent Film - The City That Sleeps

The 11 doses of well-spoken, middle-class melodrama contained herein immediately bring to mind the likes of Coldplay and Morning Runner. A Silent Film's take on the subject is thankfully a little more adrenalised than most of their contemporaries though; mixing the schmaltzy, over-blown English romanticism of Keane with the compelling modality of Antenna-era Cave-In. That said, The City That Sleeps sees the rolling emotional thunder of Robert Stevenson's piano meet with the polished prog-pop of the aforementioned Bostonian metallers' later career to surprisingly good effect. Feather White and You Will Leave A Mark hit the spot, though are ultimately outnumbered by lesser fare, whilst forthcoming single Thirteen Times The Strength is crying out for a Richard Curtis film to attach itself to. In short, it's a safe bet these guys will be in Q magazine's top 20 albums of the year. Make of that what you will. [Chris Cusack]