A Whisper in the Noise

Infobox musical artist
Name = A Whisper in the Noise


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = flagicon|USA Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
Genre = Art rock
Years_active =
Label = Transdreamer Records
Exile on Mainstream
Southern Records
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.awitn.com awitn.com]
Current_members = West Thordson
Steve Yasgar
Matt Irwin
Hannah Murray
Chris Quinn
Sonja Larson
Nicholas Conner
Rachel Drehmann
Andrew Broste
Chris Rocha
Theodora Wynhoff

A Whisper in the Noise is a musical project of rock composer West Thordson. Centered in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Twin Cities metro, the group is known for their dark sound and unique instrumentation, as well as their effective live performances. Eschewing the more traditional use of guitar or heavy keyboards that might be associated with the band's umbral sound, the instrumentation of A Whisper in the Noise has included the cello, violin, French horn, synth/electronic keyboard, bass guitar, and percussion in some variation. The resulting minimalist expression, the unique arrangement of instruments, and the inclusion of visual media elements during live performance has seen the band described as "art rock."

The band has occasionally performed without the French horn or cello, though these instruments are used heavily on the live recording of their first album, "Through the Ides of March".

Albums

"Through the Ides of March"

The album's title alludes to the famous quote from Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar", wherein a soothsayer warns Julius Caesar of his impending doom on the way to the Senate. The album was recorded in a very short period of time (two days during March), at which point someone warned the composer to "beware the ides of March." The album was recorded in Chicago by Steve Albini and released in 2003.

"2D"

Between "Through the Ides of March" and "As the Bluebird Sings" the band released a shorter album in collaboration with If Thousands called "2D".

"As the Bluebird Sings"

The band's second full-length album was entitled "As the Bluebird Sings". It includes a cover of Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A-Changin" which was included on the soundtrack of M. Night Shyamalan's "Lady in the Water". The title is partially based on a quote from a Charles Bukowski poem, as well as another Bukowski poem entitled "Bluebird". Thordson has been quoted as saying that to him the bluebird symbolizes purity. The album was produced by Tom Herbers and released in April 2006.

"Dry Land"

In October 2007 the band released their most recent album. Titled Dry Land, it is currently being distributed on the Germany-based label Exile On Mainstream Records. The album was recorded by the band's long time contact Steve Albini. The first 2000 presses were a limited edition that were packaged in over 100 year old paper that was coffee stained, air dried & then screenprinted by hand by band members Matt Irwin & West Thordson in Thordson's basement. The album has had great success in the first weeks, being the first band signed to Exile on Mainstream Records to completely sell out of stock on the labels web store.

Signature sound

The band's sound has been noted for fully incorporating the string and other orchestral instrumentation, a step different from similar rock and dark pop projects wherein strings are often added on as an afterthought or not given full room for expression and treated as integral elements within melodic musical structure. Other elements that mark the group's work are the inclusion of barely audible soundscapes of text (often derived from news broadcasts) and the persistence of slowly constructed piano arpeggios onto which other musical layers are added.

The themes dealt with lyrically are distinctly "dark" and keep with the tone of the music. The topics range from poetic reminiscences of lost or abandoned love, rage at cultural injustice, greed, and shallowness, and a kind of drifting melancholy that seems to hover on the edge of violence.

Performances

A Whisper in the Noise have performed consistently around the Twin Cities area. Additionally, they have toured the United States, Europe, and England at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival.

Live performances often but not always include still and moving images projected behind the group.

Reception

A Whisper in the Noise has typically been well-received by both critics and listeners. SouthSCENE declared them "a dark melee of some of the most innovative and mature musical styles of contemporary rock," cite web | author=Matt Harfield| year=2004 | title=SouthSCENE: Interviews: "A Whisper in the Noise" | url=http://www.southscene.net/interviews/article.php?id=1758 | work= [http://www.southscene.net SouthSCENE] | accessdate=1 February | accessyear=2007] and TreasureTunes praised the group's "dramatic, melancholic music." cite web | author=Olivier Forget| year=2005 | title=TreasureTunes: Bands: "A Whisper in the Noise" | url= http://www.treasuretunes.com/bands/a%20whisper%20in%20the%20noise.html | work= [http://www.treasuretunes.com TreasureTunes] | accessdate=1 February | accessyear=2007]

A Whisper in the Noise played in the Rhâââ Lovely Festival in second quarter 2007 and along with a tour of Europe as well.

References

External links

* [http://www.awitn.com Official website]
* [http://www.transdreamer.com/ Transdreamer Records]