Similar to its title, Elian's Whispers, Then Silence is an album focused on subtlety. It conforms to the purpose of ambient music, yet adds textures that you wouldn't normally hear from an artist relegated to that label. Michael Duane Ferrell's keen use of minimalism strongly applies Brian Eno's statement that "it must be as ignorable as it is interesting" to this release; no nonchalantly sustained notes, no awkward recurrences-- just a collection of attentive pieces.
Rather than a sparse introduction evolving into some kind of culmination, the five tracks here ease from one soundscape to the next, making it seem as if this has more tracks than it lists. A found sound loop will slowly fade into an enveloping texture of keys, which then will fade into a palette of impalpable tones. Whispers, Then Silence is equal parts meditative and captivating; vague enough to evoke new listens, though after several sessions things will remain still somewhat unclear.
At nearly an hour in length, Ferrell's work has a tendency to hypnotize. This could either be due to its more resonating sounds (as heard on the closer "Lesson In Never Again") or due to the listener's attention span. Though there are minute and subtle details, Whispers, Then Silence isn't meant for an accentuated listen. Thus we go back to that Brian Eno quote previously mentioned: the listening approach varies. The echoing, pulsating tones are entrancing, but it makes great background music as well.
Regardless of the listening environment, rest assured that Elian's Whispers, Then Silence is an elaborate and multidimensional listen, with new discoveries to be heard in every replay. Although unfamiliar in some spots, in no way is this album forgettable. Elian is just providing a new set of sounds for a new pair of ears. Whispers, Then Silence's both human and otherworldly atmospheres prove that with minimalism, comes complexity.
[Elian Myspace]
[Buy Whispers, Then Silence from Home Normal]
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