The Silence - Shotgun Eyes (2023)

This sizzling set of ‘50s R&B would sit well with early period Rolling Stones and Pretty Things were not it for the fact it was recorded in 1990 by the act that bore us Mott The Hoople.

Flashback to the mid ‘60s and Robert Fisher (bass), Paul Jeffery (guitar), Patrick Brooke (lead vocals, harp) and guitarist Pete ‘Overend’ Watts and drummer Dale ‘Buffin’ Griffin (the latter duo to later join Mott The Hoople) were called The Silence, ironically-named young Hereford hopefuls playing US bases across Europe.

Fast forward to a post-Mott reunion gig prompting a trip to the iconic Rockfield Studios in Wales to get their act taped for fun and prosperity.

Mashing originals with covers of Chuck Berry, Willie Dixon, Jimmy Reed amongst other luminaries, the outcome is an authentic recreation of period ‘beat’ that revives the spirit of the times and nails making the album they could not get to back in 1965.

‘Shotgun Eyes‘ may be a far cry from Mott The Hoople in genre but The Silence share their successor’s verve and energy with a raucous and knowing glee.