Despite dropping the deadly double-header of RUINIZER and CUTOFF:SKY on the world last weekend, and being on the verge of announcing possibly one of the most lethal debut albums ever, by and large 2014 seems to be shaping up to be “the year of the second album” on DWA.
With BLAKOPZ’ massive “As Nations Decay” just out of the starting blocks, and with no fewer than four acts including SURGYN currently completing follow-up albums for 2014 release, we can today make public details of the first of 2 more second albums we are already preparing for release – the new full-length from UK-based outfit CYFERDYNE.
2013 saw a sea-change at CYFERDYNE with the departure of previous programmer, producer and co-vocalist Niall Robertson and the recruitment of local Lancaster-based Ritual Noise DJ Andy McBain in his place.
Any doubts anyone might harbor about how this might impact on CYFERDYNE’s sound should be swiftly and firmly laid to rest by the assured and powerful production of their exceptional second album “Keep Your Silence”.
Written by the original line-up including Niall, and recorded and produced by the new line-up, “Keep Your Silence” demonstrates the depth of development in both sound and songwriting one would expect from a second album, straddling the line between satisfying fans of the band’s debut “Genesys” and those seeking something more.
And “more” it certainly is, in all respects - taking CYFERDYNE into leaner, cleaner and more polished production territory. More commercially-accessible, while still retaining measures of the edge and aggression evident in their earlier material.
A quintessentially British sound reminiscent in parts of MESH or DEPECHE MODE on tracks like “Numb” and “Weak”, not merely in terms of vocals but also the plaintive synthpop melodies.
In the more minimal arrangements of “Keep Your Silence” Steven Houghton’s voice has never sounded more vulnerable nor so authoritative now that he is singing solo.
Catchy club classics like album-openers “Cables And Codes”(the single exception to the GARY NUMAN-esque one-word titles of the rest of the tracklist)and “Jigsaw” with its nods to DETROIT DIESEL here rub shoulders with the radio-friendly “Numb”, the perfect-pop of “Fracture” and the epic “Clockwork” – which embraces sonic elements of NINE INCH NAILS and displays CYFERDYNE’s rockier side, also represented in tracks like “Glass” and "Escape"…
More melodic and melancholic than “Genesys”, “Keep Your Silence” has an accomplished and assured feel that belies its status as the sophomore outing of a young band still creating a signature sound.
With futuristic post-apocalyptic artwork like “Genesys” by DWA’s lead designer Vlad McNeally, mastering for “Keep Your Silence” was carried out by million-selling dance music producer Jesse Skeens – who numbers the likes of JASON NEVINS and SPOOKY among his extensive client list - at his Medway Studios facility in London.

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