A Whisper in the Noise
4/8/6 at the Knitting Factory in NYC
Officially, A Whisper in the Noise was the first band I saw in NYC on this recent trip. Knowing nothing about them except that they were opening for Arab Strap, I really had no preconceived notions whatsoever. Hailing from Hanska, Minnesota, they played as a four piece with keyboards, violin, drums, and guitar. Some of their songs are very unusual and have a real bite to their vocals as in the case of “Hell’s Half Acre” but others are less like Radiohead and have a more unique sound. It’s very emotional and intense with compositions orchestrated around the ideas in West Thordson’s head. The songs are enhanced when Sonja Larson sings sweet backup and also by her guitar playing. They also had footage of a dancer and a human heart playing while they were performing.
On their myspace page, they describe themselves as “bastardized orchestral garage rock.” Live, I felt they came off sometimes as very similar to Radiohead, one song in particular being a little too close to comfort to Radiohead’s “Exit Music for a film” but I think as long as they stick to what makes them have their own unique sound for the majority of the songs, they’ll really find their way. I’m not sure why but I think Max Ernst may have liked this band.
Check out their original songs as well as a very odd slow cover of Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A Changin’” on their myspace page