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From the opening moments of The Listening LP, it's clearly the band's name change is not merely cosmetic. Lush keyboards and almost-lazy synth bassline bring the record in as hushed, throaty vocals deliver line after line in a hypnotic cadence. "Glory of the Feared" is one of twelve outstanding tracks that drip, sweat and bleed passion, agony, heartache and hope. Lyrically, Gabriel Wilson is in top form, a romantic wordsmith using potent imagery to convey the depths of despair and the quiet resurrection of hope. With nearly every song topping five minutes, the music has an unrushed, natural quality to it. Chiming vintage toned guitars and stripped down drums combine with synthesizer low end and lots of wonderful keyboard tones . Nothing is forced, transitions are gentle yet dynamic. The listener, in many ways, is akin to a fortunate fly on the wall as four talented men create brilliance on the spot.

Fans of the Rock & Roll Worship Circus may very well be disconcerted by the stylistic change, as it applies not only to the music but the lyrics. "Love, the greatest innovation/Emotion intertwined with liberty," Gabriel breathes in "Triple Fascination." One of the standout tracks, "Hosea In C Minor," the voice caresses the words "None of the people who told you can hear it/voices on the telly always led to deceiving/you didn't know you were sleeping with demons." The lyrics are darkly wry, passionate, heated, and certainly uncomfortable. "Press my lips upon your skin/breath the air you're breathing in/taste the taste the heaven in/ where you end and I begin/ want to be in your eyes again/ want to be in your eyes again", or so goes "Be In Your Eyes". The words matter. The band's name points towards the secret: It is in the listening that impact comes.

With hints of Sigur Ros, Death Cab For Cutie, Radiohead as well as classic rock like Pink Floyd and The Beatles, The Listening has nonetheless forged the band's own unique sonic identity. In the process, they have revealed one of the truly great albums of the past few years - melancholy, lush, captivating and passionate. There is a sense, with The Listening, of trespassing on sacred ground and being caught by the maker, and like the music, the only response is hushed awe.

The Listening is available in stores come January, but there's no reason to wait that long: It's on sale now at the band's website. www.worshipcircus.com/www.thelistening.com. And of course you can listen to four tracks from the record at myspace.com/thelistening

Ryan Ro

When not fighting crime in a future time, Canadian Ryan Ro finds time to update the independent Christian band resource/music webzine CNXmusic.com.  He also has tattoos of the Autobot and Decepticon symbols.  No, seriously.

With the wave of "modern worship" music that has swept the country in the last five years, why don't more bands sound like The Listening?   Rather than water down their message with repeated choruses and elementary music, The Listening writes new songs, enlists top level talent (producer Chris Blair has worked with The Beatles and Radiohead), and simply rocks out on their latest disc. 

As young as they are, they have employed an old school method of making records – The Listening LP is recorded on analog two inch tape, with vintage tubes, 1960's Ludwig drums, and 1940's cymbals.   The result is a timeless disc that mixes every decade of rock and roll since the 60's – you can hear remnants of The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Love & Rockets, Radiohead, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club without straining.   

"Glory of the Feared" leads off, mixing U2 guitars with Daniel Ash vocals, and the fuzz of a BRMC piece.  This is the basic method throughout the record, leading to its only flaw: a lot of the songs have the same basic sound to them, demonstrating an inability for the untrained listener to distinguish between them.   At times, particularly on "Lovely Red Lights" the vocals take on an Elliott Smith feel, albeit more edgy than fragile.  

Other standouts here include "Are You Listening?" and "When the Idol Dies."  The name change shouldn't scare anyone – The Listening still are the same great band that made Big Star Logistics and Welcome to the Rock 'N' Roll Worship Circus.  People who appreciate loud music and a good guitar solo will not be disappointed by this disc.   Those looking for the latest Hillsong compilation probably should stay far, far away from this one.

Brian A. Smith
28 January 2006