Album Review

Cage Against the Machine – 4′ 33

• 18th Dec 2010

This is possibly one of the hardest reviews, ever. My first proposal was to leave a blank page – I thought it might be a little pretentious to describe silence with no other word than “silence” – the idea was heartily denounced by the editor of this publication. Here is the review of why I dislike this concept of musical existentialism so very much.

Expectations are very high, after all the song by The Four Seasons suggests ‘Silence is Golden’. There are redeeming features to the music. Firstly the record is going to charity and is perhaps a pop at what is in the charts without the usual preaching of countless protest songs. Also the blank canvas of silence means this record will be constantly refreshed and still have its original intrinsic quality updated as the sounds of daily life are allowed to take over.

Still, I am not a fan of concepts and it is hard to make the record seem like a serious attempt. They have roped in some big names, and many other talents from the world of music, to make silence. I hope this is not a pop at exercises like X-Factor et al, if it is, then this record is utterly worthless. To rope in the likes of Billy Bragg alongside Florence and the Machine for the musical equivalent of the emperor’s new clothes is just a cynical move which reduces their credibility. Robert Capa used working images to protest against war, not totally under/over exposed shots.

I might sound sarcastic, bitter or vitriolic, I really could not care less. It is hard to get enthusiastic over nothing. Peace and silence go together like horse and carriage in that they are a gift, not a product.