With Speak to Me in Silence, UK singer-songwriter Paul James Project candidly cracks open the consuming complexity of grief after the loss of a parent and pours the bitter-sweet mourning into an anthemic synthesis of Britpop and shimmers of alt indie euphoria to lift listeners struggling with their own multifaceted pain into an atmosphere which can hold all of the pain personal nostalgia can carry.
More than just a lament of what we lose as we mature and meet all the pains of material reality, there’s a metaphysical power to the poetically titled track, which attests to how the lack of physical presence doesn’t have to mean total emotional absence. Sonically, thematically, and emotionally, it’s a stunningly rendered release of relief for anyone struggling to see the light in grief.
With industry heavyweights involved in the production, including Grammy-nominated Chris Potter (The Verve, The Rolling Stones), every instrumental, from the angular indie guitar notes to the cathartic pulse of the percussion, lends itself to the visualisation of this emotionally-charged tour de force.
Following collaborations with Billy Lawrie and praise from Will Champion of Coldplay, the project is gaining traction ahead of the debut album Book of Memories, due in autumn 2025.
Speak to Me in Silence is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.
Review by Amelia Vandergast
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