Silence Like Sirens – Kalen (reviewed by Dave Franklin)

Is it possible to make electronic music that captures all of the grace and grandeur of classical music? Is there true delicacy and deftness to be found in the digital world? Can pop music be deep and meaningful? Not only can the answer to all those questions be found in the affirmative, but it is also found in the music that makes up Silence Like Sirens, the new EP from Kalen.

Blending deft pop poise with more dance-driven beats, Kalen has created a suit of songs that take synthpop, although such a term is wholly inadequate for what is happening here to new heights. A song like Phoenix blends elegance with eloquence as it explores healing and redemption, I Miss Home blends cool, clinical beats with warm and welcoming vocals, even as it dreams of distance and isolation, and the title track is an atmospheric ballad that blends traditional piano charm with electronic chimes.

It is perhaps the fact that this is a collaboration with some of the great and good of modern music that has pitched the benchmarks so high, with Izzy Gliksberg of Late Sea, Will Bradford from SeepeopleS, and Little Daylight’s Eric Zeiler all helping these songs reach dazzling new sonic heights.

Emotive, sonically adventurous, and utterly amazing!