British singer/songwriter James Page who goes under the name of Sivu has been diagnosed with Meniere disease, which causes disorder of one’s inner ear. Not a disease you would wish on anyone, let alone somebody who loves and played music. Sivu’ second album, Sweet Sweet Silent in al its aspects, from the title to the music and lyrics is Page’s way of coping with this realization. In the process, Sivu has come up with one of the more engaging, subtle and musically impressive albums so far this year.
The album was produced by the able hands (and ears) Alt-J producer Charlie Andrew, and while it is compared to Sivu’s cited inspirations such as Bjork, Beck, and Radiohead, to these ears and recollection it bears inspirational and atmospheric resemblance to the sole solo album by former Talk Talk lead singer Mark Hollis (1998). From the opener “Submersible”, Sweet Sweet Silent is all hushed vocals sparse backing (piano, backing vocals, subtle effects) and wide open musical spaces. But Pages fill those spaces with intricate melodies and engaging lyrics that deal with his realization that there is a disease he has to cope with. A number of tracks (“Lonesome”, the title track), start out as simple hushed vocals guitar/piano affairs, slowly building up to swirling strings and backing vocals, making them absolute musical dazzlers.
The title track, of course, is the central piece in his feelings and possible approach in dealing with the possibility of a progressive hearing loss. While it definitely expresses, as Page put it himself, “feelings of despair and uncertainty”, it also seems to have given the response to what kind of an approach he is going to take - and that is to create music as long as he can. What he has come up on Sweet Sweet Silent is the music of immeasurable sadness and beauty, and the only two things you can wish Page is that his illness never progresses and that he will be able to make music like this as long as he can.
