At the Soundless Dawn

Last updated
At the Soundless Dawn
Red Sparowes - At the Soundless Dawn.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 22, 2005
Recorded2004
Genre Post-rock, post-metal
Length62:38
Label Neurot, Robotic Empire, Hypertension
Producer Red Sparowes
Red Sparowes chronology
At the Soundless Dawn
(2005)
Every Red Heart Shines Toward the Red Sun
(2006)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Pitchfork Media (5.9/10) [2]

At the Soundless Dawn is Red Sparowes' 2005 debut release. It had a mixed reception upon release, enthusiastically welcomed by fans of the genre and of related bands such as Isis and Neurosis. Belgian record label Hypertension Records released it on double LP. [3]

Contents

The album includes no vocals, instead focusing on extended instrumentation evolving slowly, usually into a crescendo. This would make the album best described as post rock. Throughout the album, the motifs of urban decay and human extinction are expressed via samples, and the poetic nature of the song titles.

Theme

According to the band, "There is an underlying theme to this record. The literature on the subject is almost limitless, but it basically breaks down to this: There have previously been five “mass extinction events” on earth that have been scientifically realized, dating back from 440 million years ago. These events have resulted in the extinction of 19% - 54% of all species on earth at each specific time period. The first five events have been caused by natural elements, including the known impacts with meteors and the like. We are currently experiencing the sixth extinction event, which is the first one to be caused by a single species on our planet, which happens to be humanity." [4]

It has been also postulated that a major inspiration of the album is T. S. Eliot's Preludes, as "the original idea of using the word 'sparrows' came from the words of T. S. Eliot", [4] and it is within Preludes that the sparrow is referenced, as a symbol of mankind's abuse of nature. "Sunlight Through the Shutters", from the final song, is a recurring image in Eliot's work; notably "And the light crept up between the shutters, And you heard the sparrows in the gutters" from "Preludes" part III, line 31. The theme of mankind's destruction of nature is concordant with the concept pressing forward the album also.[ original research? ]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Red Sparowes.

No.TitleLength
1."Alone and Unaware, the Landscape was Transformed in Front of Our Eyes"8:27
2."Buildings Began to Stretch Wide Across the Sky, And the Air Filled with a Reddish Glow"7:22
3."The Soundless Dawn Came Alive as Cities Began to Mark the Horizon"4:18
4."Mechanical Sounds Cascaded Through the City Walls and Everyone Reveled in Their Ignorance"11:19
5."A Brief Moment of Clarity Broke Through the Deafening Hum, but It Was Too Late"5:59
6."Our Happiest Days Slowly Began to Turn into Dust"5:40
7."The Sixth Extinction Crept Up Slowly, Like Sunlight Through the Shutters, as We Looked Back in Regret" (actual song ends at 11:57; silence for 4:00; untitled hidden track 3:35 [5] )19:30
Japanese edition bonus track
No.TitleLength
8."I Saw the Sky in the North Open to the Ground and Fire Poured Out"7:07

The eighth track, "I Saw the Sky in the North Open to the Ground and Fire Poured Out", was initially only available on Japanese releases of the album. It was later released in the United States on a split EP with Gregor Samsa.

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<i>Waiting for the Sun</i> 1968 studio album by the Doors

Waiting for the Sun is the third studio album by the American rock band the Doors. The album's 11 tracks were recorded between January and May 1968 at TTG Studios in Los Angeles. Released by Elektra Records on July 3, 1968, it became the band's only number one album, while also included their second US number one single, "Hello, I Love You". The first single released off the record was "The Unknown Soldier," which peaked at number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also became the band's first hit album in the UK, where it reached number 16.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interstellar Overdrive</span> 1967 instrumental by Pink Floyd

"Interstellar Overdrive" is an instrumental composition written and performed by Pink Floyd. The song was written in 1966 and is on their 1967 debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, clocking in at almost ten minutes in length.

<i>The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale</i> 1999 studio album by Prince

The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale is the twenty-second studio album by American recording artist Prince. It was released on August 24, 1999 by Warner Bros. Records. The album was submitted to Warner Bros. Records in 1996, complete with artwork at the same time as Chaos and Disorder, but released three years later, shortly before Prince's Arista album release Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic. The album was recorded from 1985 through 1996. It was the last album to be released by Warner Bros. to fulfill his 1992 contract obligations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Phenomenauts</span> Science band from Oakland, California, US

The Phenomenauts are a musical band from Oakland, California, that combine several styles of music with a futuristic science fiction theme. Their sound uses elements from rock and roll, punk, glam, garage rock and new wave styles of music. They call their style "rocket roll".

<i>River Runs Red</i> 1993 studio album by Life of Agony

River Runs Red is the debut studio album by American alternative metal band Life of Agony, released on October 12, 1993 by Roadrunner Records. It is a concept album, telling the story of a teenager, from a troubled household, who ultimately attempts suicide. The album features what Rolling Stone called "bleak odes to misanthropy, parental neglect, regret and killing yourself".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Sparowes</span> American post-rock band

Red Sparowes is an American, Los Angeles-based post-rock band, comprising current and former members of Isis, Marriages, The Nocturnes, Halifax Pier, Angel Hair and Pleasure Forever. Their sound is characteristic of soundscape-influenced experimental rock, with an otherwise uncommon extensive use of a pedal steel guitar.

<i>The Orbs Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld</i> 1991 studio album by The Orb

The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld is the debut studio album by English electronic music group The Orb, released as a double album on 2 April 1991 by Big Life. It is a continuous, progressive composition evoking a two-hour psychedelic trip that draws from various genres and incorporates samples and sound effects. Much of the album was recorded after founding member Jimmy Cauty left the group, leaving Alex Paterson as the central member, with additional contributions by Andy Falconer, Kris Weston, and others.

<i>The Red Sea</i> (EP) 1999 EP by Isis

The Red Sea is an EP by Isis. An expansion of the sound pioneered on their previous release Mosquito Control, this EP offers a slight evolution toward the direction Isis would begin to take with their first full length, Celestial. The three songs which make up the original EP are tied together with spoken word samples from the short-lived television series Hotel Room. The song "Ochre" contains a sample from the film Dead Man by Jim Jarmusch, and is a reading of a portion of William Blake's poem "Auguries of Innocence".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">H (Ayumi Hamasaki EP)</span> 2002 EP by Ayumi Hamasaki

H is an EP by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki, featuring songs later included on her fifth studio album Rainbow (2002). The EP contains the songs "Independent", "July 1st" and "Hanabi", all written and co-composed by Hamasaki, alongside composer Dai Nagao and producer Max Matsuura. Hamasaki had written and recorded the three songs when she was still hurt and influenced by the events of the September 11 attacks and the completion of her fourth studio album I Am... (2002).

<i>Best: First Things</i> 2005 greatest hits album by Koda Kumi

Best: First Things is the first compilation album released by Japanese pop singer Koda Kumi. It debuted at No. 1 on Oricon, giving her first number-one album, and became her longest charting album, staying on the charts for 124 weeks. The album included all of her a-sides released since her debut in 2000 with Take Back and became one of her highest selling albums, selling nearly two million copies as of 2007.

<i>The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw</i> 2005 studio album by Pelican

The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw is the second full-length studio album by Chicago post-metal band Pelican. It was released May 22, 2005 on Hydra Head Records. Regarding the lengthy and unusual name of the album, guitarist Trevor de Brauw joked, "The title is meant to confuse people. The original title was going to be Black Doom on Tuesday."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayúdame</span> 2007 single by Paulina Rubio

"Ayúdame" is a song recorded for Paulina Rubio's eighth studio album Ananda. The song was co-written with Argentinian singer-songwriter Coti Sorokin who Rubio previously collaborated with on his single "Nada Fue Un Error" the previous year, and also being one of the few songs Rubio has co-written credits on the album. "Ayúdame" was released on April 4, 2007 as the album's third single. The single had moderate success on the charts reaching a peak of number 36 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs

<i>The Unifying Themes of Sex, Death and Religion</i> Compilation album by the American rock band Botch

The Unifying Themes of Sex, Death and Religion is a compilation album by the American rock band Botch. Originally released through Excursion Records in 1997, the album compiled Botch's first two EPs—The John Birch Conspiracy Theory and Faction—with the song "Closure" which was previously released on the various artists compilation I Can't Live Without It.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deftones discography</span>

The discography of Deftones, an American alternative metal band, consists of nine studio albums, three extended plays, three compilation albums, five demo albums and 22 singles. Their back-catalogue of B-side material encompasses 52 tracks. One release is certified gold by the RIAA in recognition of shipments exceeding 500,000 copies, and three are certified platinum for exceeding one million copies. They have sold over 10 million albums worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Not If You Were the Last Junkie on Earth</span> 1997 single by the Dandy Warhols

"Not If You Were the Last Junkie on Earth" is a song by American rock band the Dandy Warhols. It was released on June 16, 1997, as the first single from their second studio album, ...The Dandy Warhols Come Down.

<i>Oh Lord, God of Vengeance, Show Yourself!</i> 2006 live album by Red Sparowes

Oh Lord, God of Vengeance, Show Yourself! is a live album released by Red Sparowes in 2006 with the purpose of allowing the band to replace equipment which was stolen from their van while touring in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Caxide</span> American bassist

Jeff Caxide is an American bassist, best known for his time with post-metal band Isis, of which he was a founding member and present until its dissolution in 2010. He was also a founding member of Red Sparowes, but left after the release of their first full-length. He also contributed to side-project Spylacopa. Prior to his time in Isis, he was a touring member of the Boston metalcore band 454 Big Block. He also helped found Connecticut-based metalcore band Cable, for whom he played bass. His stay with the band as a musician was brief, but he did return in order to produce 1999's Gutter Queen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryant Clifford Meyer</span> Musical artist

Bryant Clifford Meyer is a keyboardist, guitarist and vocalist, best known for his tenure with Los Angeles, California-based post-metal band Isis. He was with the band since its debut full-length, Celestial, in 2000. Previously, he was a formative member of Boston-based rock band The Gersch. He is also a member of post-rock side projects Red Sparowes, Windmills by the Ocean and a solo project named Taiga.

<i>Legend</i> (Two Steps from Hell album) 2008 demo album by Two Steps From Hell

Legend is a demonstration album by the music production group Two Steps from Hell, originally released exclusively to clients in the motion picture and advertising industry for the purpose of licensing in May 2008. It consists of three discs: two CDs and a bonus DVD. The former contain a total of 37 principal tracks; 20 on disc one and 17 on disc two. The latter includes a large collection of alternative versions; therefore, in total, Legend consists of 77 tracks. They are predominantly composed by the group's founding members, Thomas J. Bergersen and Nick Phoenix, as well as some by Troels Folmann. The album was recorded by Capellen Orchestra in Prague, Czech Republic and at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, United States. The cover artwork and the sleeve are designed by Steven R. Gilmore.

The Sixth Extinction or Holocene extinction is the ongoing extinction event of species during the present Holocene epoch.

References

  1. Zorn, Alexandra. "At the Soundless Dawn – Red Sparowes". allmusic . Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  2. Ubl, Sam (15 June 2005). "Red Sparowes: At the Soundless Dawn". Pitchfork Media . Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  3. Schöne, Frank (May 2005). "Review RED SPAROWS At The Soundless Dawn CD". Ox-Fanzine (in German). Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Red Sparowes". Modern Fix. Archived from the original on 5 January 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  5. "Red Sparowes - At The Soundless Dawn (2005, CD) | Discogs". Discogs . Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  6. 1 2 At the Soundless Dawn (Media notes). Red Sparowes. Neurot Recordings. 2005. NR035.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)