All Is Wild, All Is Silent

Balmorhea | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 10, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Western Vinyl
• ASIN: B001QUF77Y
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #136,712 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshment, August 28, 2009

By 

E. Schwartz "StereoFox" (Pgh, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: All Is Wild, All Is Silent (Audio CD)

This album is breathtaking. I do not exaggerate. Sweeping and doleful, it is not so much an album as it is a soundscape fit for scenes only found in the American Southwest 150 years ago. And that makes sense coming from a band from Austin. It takes the vacancy of a desert to elicit and distill this breed of artistic expression. Though Balmorhea has not yet reached the creative maturity of bands like Sigur Rós, it is apparent that they are well on their way. What Icelanic tundra is for Sigur Rós, the Texas hill country may be for Balmorhea.

The layering of piano, cello, violin, acoustic guitar, restrained drums, hand claps and distant vocal harmonies evokes feelings of exaltation and remorse all in one poignant go. To be true, this may be less an indie rock album than it is a modern classical one. Yet not a single moment is boring or tedious. This is the kind of album that is worth sitting down and *listening* to on vinyl. This is the kind of album that makes even a dreary bus ride home beautiful.

Wrought with folksy feelings of western expansion, rushing rivers, and big open skies, I find myself being pulled into a simple world no longer existent in the hyper-connected modern lifestyles we all seem to inhabit. Balmorhea has minutely slowed the pace of the world by making this album, and I would consider that admirable.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars (BAL-MOOR-AY), September 12, 2009

By 

James - See all my reviews

This review is from: All Is Wild, All Is Silent (MP3 Download)

Balmorhea is less post-rock more traditional instrumental music, but has has plenty of experimentation and climactic build-ups to hook fans of various instrumental genres. All is Wild, All is Silent is more of a full-band effort than their previous, minimalistic albums - now using acoustic and lead guitars, piano, drums, *upright* bass, violin, cello and banjo.

My personal favorite, "Harm and Boon", starts with sparse, dismal piano chords but quickly builds into one of the most elegant and triumphant pieces you may ever hear. "Rememberance" is a mournful track that could appropriately narrate a moment-of-truth duel between two rivaling gunslingers (circa 1831).

Romantic and bold, Balmorhea makes terrific progress with All is Wild, All is Silent. Balmorhea keep themselves busy soundtracking films, touring internationally, and making music wrought with indescribable glory. If nothing else, download their track "Harm and Boon". Save it for a particularly calm and quiet moment, then give it a listen. Balmorhea will become one of your favorites.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Soul touching, October 17, 2009

By 

T. Figgy "T Figgy" (California USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: All Is Wild, All Is Silent (Audio CD)

Oh. My. Goodness. This album is completely amazing! They are soo talented; they know how to play those instruments. And there are multiple instruments!! Listening to this album as I drive between hills and the beautiful nature makes me sooo happy. I feel like I can do anything; it gives me such inspiration. I listen to song number eight and nine every night before I fall asleep and meditate to it. Get it, you won't regret it :)