paul vnuk jr.: silence speaks in shadow paul vnuk jr.: silence speaks in shadow (Hypnos - 2001) One half of Ma Ja Le has "gone solo" as they say... taking the lightly atmospheric road, paul vnuk jr. reveals, in a long-form emission of faint electronics and urban ambiance, that silence speaks in shadow. Hushed soundwaves float on a peacefully rainy city night, and Vnuk captures the best of all those elements. Subtly shimmering synthscapes (sometimes barely there at all) simply drift through Silence Speaks in Shadow (73:58); occasional "real life" incidents (falling rain, chattering people, cat sounds which always have me looking around to see what mine are up to...) add a you-are-there textural element to the whole mix. It should be noted that (except fot the lingering showers) these happenings are few, with plenty of spaciously drifting ephemera throughout. Hinting of danger elsewhere (but not here), sirens pass as lovely chorus-like strands waft through the spattering of raindrops on concrete. Around the 40-minute mark, light chimes sparkle with a cushiony resonance counterbalancing distant thunder. Everything slowly fades in the final moments, like slipping into a comfortable slumber... Soundscape meets cityscape in silence speaks in shadow, a panoramic blend of shapeshifting ambient streams and subtle occurences which blend rather than intrude. No hustle-bustle here as paul vnuk jr. processes the most subdued audiovisions, transmitting them as these flowing scenes of 9.2-rated beauty. Quite gorgeous! The amazing Hypnos catalog just keeps getting better... This review posted July 31, 2001 AmbiEntrance © 2001-1997 by David J Opdyke (except CD cover art, rights retained by original owners).