Album Review: Silence

It may have taken a few years in the making (four to be exact), but the band from the Waikato with a tight post-punk sound, Older have finally released their original fifteen track debut album Silence. This has been a culmination of years of experience in song writing and producing.

This couple notably is one of the most unique and interesting duos I have stumbled across in recent times. I sit fair and square in the age range who will appreciate this album. “Older has one goal – to be less like their contemporaries as time passes. Ageism, that last bastion of ‘isms’ that pervaded modern life unchallenged, is their driving force”. I know a whole lot of people who will appreciate where these guys are coming from. Physically they may be in the Waikato, but mentally Jel and Julie Legg reckon they are London circa 1979.

First and foremost, before I get stuck into the music I would like to take a moment to mention, this band sent through one of the most robust well written press releases and biography I have had the joy of reading. I love researching bands, so it was a delight to behold Older’s website with biographical accounts on not only the couple together but also individually. A complete background account, through to future visions, right down to the meaning of the bands symbol which has such thought and meaning behind it I was left in awe at how they tied it all together. I got a good sense of who they are.

This duo has ethos which fits in perfectly with their anarchist punk sounding lyrics “they reject most mainstream ideology” and have in the past been described as “social commentators”. Oh boy do they have a solid punk rock sound to back up those no bull lyrics. There is an obvious classic UK punk influence invading their music lending to the energetic, bold and full bodied sound. Resisting all things wrong with modern life never sounded so good.

With gritty and honest cross-generational lyrics, Older should appeal to a varied range of listeners. The lyrics are a worldly-wise hard-hitting wakeup call, which are laced with rebellion. A total breathe of fresh air and perhaps slightly tongue in cheek. Superbly creative and intelligent song writing.

Out of the fifteen engaging tracks, my three personal favourites came down to 1984, Takapuna Wives Club and Vanilla. There is no constraint on Silence it is anything but “vanilla”. A well rounded rich dense sound, Jel and Julie complement each other splendidly. Julies vocals reminiscent of Marianne Faithful.

With a wealth of musical and creative experience between them and “forty years of influences” this is an album I would recommend having a listen to, even if punk doesn’t float your boat.

These guys have proved with this album that they are not just “a couple of oldie’s banging out some tunes”. Older have demonstrated that age is merely a number, not a restriction to creativity. This couple are anything but ordinary.