We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Sadness (+ bonus tracks) / DW011

by Silently Down

supported by
Michael Perez
Michael Perez thumbnail
Michael Perez Criminally underrated and obscure, Silently Down needs to be heard to be believed . This is one of the most depressing, yet catchy collections of songs that I have heard in quite some time . Who knew that Depeche Mode style Synthpop could mesh so perfectly with Asylum Party style Coldwave ? In my humble opinion, this truly is a masterpiece and I commend Dead Wax Records for releasing this ! Favorite track: Welcome To A Suicide Day.
/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      €10 EUR  or more

     

1.
Days Go By 04:00
2.
Reflection 04:08
3.
Alone 04:35
4.
La-Haut 03:05
5.
To Die Happy 05:00
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Goodbye 04:32
11.
12.
13.

about

VINYL VERSION (150 copies only): www.deadwaxrecords.es

After hearing Yazoo and Depeche Mode Raphael bought his first synth (a Roland JX 8P) in 1985. Soon after he acquired other synthesizers and samplers and begun to play the guitar in a very basic way. He discovered Little Nemo, Asylum Party, Mary Goes Round, Opéra de Nuit but also Pink Turns Blue, Invisible Limits, Sisters of Mercy and Collection d’Arnell Andrea. All those bands influenced and inspired Raphael’s creational mind and by 1987 the one-man project SILENTLY DOWN was born.

Having written numerous songs in various styles ranging from synthpop to cold wave, Raphael recorded a demo on an 8-track machine and sent the tape to the French label Lively Art. He received no reply, so in 1991 he decided to go ahead alone and self-release his first recordings with the financial help from his family. He went into Studio Concept in Lausanne where he met Patrice Collet (former member of the Swiss band Taboo), who was working together with Ursula Nun (of The Vyllies) on their Lussia project for the New Rose label. Patrice would record and mix Raphael’s songs and during the sessions Ursula heard the stuff and ended up asking Raphael to record some vocal parts on a song called ‘Die Erben Der Dunkelheit’ with him. Six songs were released on cd as the ‘Sad’ minialbum in 1992, but this song wasn’t finally included amongst them.

The ‘Sad’ cd was sent to many French local radio stations by a label based in Paris. Their feedback was excellent and the label asked Raphael to record more tracks to complete a full album with ten songs. At the same time Olivier Paccaud, vocalist / bassist for Lucie Cries and mastermind of the Alea Jacta Est label also asked for an unreleased song to be included in the ‘L’Appel De La Muse Vol. IV’ compilation. So Raphael got back into the studio to fulfil the requests and complete the ten songs, but he didn’t reach a final agreement with the French label so the full album was never released. Some songs from ‘Sad’ were also included on a couple of German and French compilation cassettes / cds but no further releases by Silently Down ever took place.

More than 20 years later we decided to give 'Sad' a well-deserved second chance. We called it ‘SADNESS’ this time to mark a difference, as it’s so much more complete than its predecessor. Romantic synth / cold wave, touching but dancey, heavily electronic. Heartfelt, sometimes truly sad lyrics... a sign of those times. The influence of classic bands already mentioned, Little Nemo, Opéra de Nuit and Invisible Limits is undeniable. A very well crafted album with a great production level.

Raphael never stopped making music and recording at home. He has some 180 songs by now... and counting!

credits

released January 29, 2016

*Additional vocals by Ursula Nun (The Vyllies)

All songs written, produced and performed by R. Maccaud.

Recorded and mixed by Patrice Collet at Studio Concept (Lausanne, Switzerland) in 1992.

Mastered for vinyl by Nicolás Zúñiga.

Artwork design by David Lanna.

Special thanks to Mª Antonia Lanna and Anna Mª Martí for making this Dead Wax Records project possible.

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Dead Wax Records Madrid, Spain

Dead Wax Records is an independent label just like the ones in the early 80s. We do everything ourselves out of pure passion for music, focusing mainly on post-punk, minimal & cold wave, synthpop, goth rock / pop. Quality music always, lost forgotten jewels in need of a second chance, recently discovered treasures that will see the light for the first time.

Music doesn’t stop on the Dead Wax!!
... more

contact / help

Contact Dead Wax Records

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Sadness (+ bonus tracks) / DW011, you may also like: