There’s a ritualistic undercurrent in The Deadly Affair’s work which runs through every facet of their creative identity. Their debut album, Visions Through the Sense of Silence, is a great example of their ability to bring together hypnotic sounds with an intrinsic darkness, drawing from the rather deep well of dark post punk influences. It is an unfiltered album, and it resonates with honesty and asense of directness.
For their debut, the Chilean band teamed up with Atom™, who takes the reins on production, and the result is impressive, particularly on the technical front. The album's melodicism is amplified by a rich sonic palette and carefully crafted instrumentation, while its starker, more austere moments which make up the bulk of the record, are rendered with a crisp clarity, heightening the underlying tension which permeates the whole experience.
The record's mesmerizing sonic profile is both bleak and alluringly melodic. Consider distilling the sluggish drift of slowcore, the ghostly textures of dreampop, the immersive shadows of darkwave, the urgency of post punk, and the frankness of traditional folk; then what remains is something singular and haunting. The Deadly Affair come as close as anyone to expressing that essence in its purest form.
Line In Heaven, the lead single that introduced the album, is also one of its most intimate and affecting moments. Steeped in a Lynchian, dreamlike haze, the track unfolds with brooding lyricism front and center, supported by a lush instrumental base, and production which feels immersive it teeters on the edge of tears. The deep vocal delivery is also profoundly resonant, with every word seemingly lived and felt in real time. With this opening statement alone, The Deadly Affair have managed to hook the listener from the very first breath.
The rest of the album follows a similar pace, unfolding slowly, deliberately, and ultimately becoming the embodiment of what one might call a true slow burner. Fear Ceases to Exist, beyond its fantastic title, mesmerizes by lingering in a liminal space, somewhere between a dirge, an incantation, and a cry of existential unease. The track doesn't rush to make its point, instead, it brings attention to the stark emotionality of which its creators are capable, and stands out prominently.
While it’s often unfair to draw comparisons, especially for a new band, it's quite tough not to think of the later, more expansive work of Swans, or the somber, brooding folk of Death in June when listening to Visions Through the Sense of Silence. Take My Blood is another standout, submerged in the aberrant richness reminiscent of the first, while You’ve Changed Forever leans into the twisted, minimal melancholy which echoes the latter. There’s even a trace of Slint’s rough, early post rock sprawl woven through the record. It is all subtle but unmistakable, and well worth noting.
The Deadly Affair are a fresh and compelling presence in the dark underground; unafraid to fully inhabit the sonic territory where they feel most at home. Their creative intentions come through loud and clear. Their music is unflinching and sincere. Visions Through the Sense of Silence is a work full of atmosphere and profundity, and for those willing to sink into its moodiness, there’s much to uncover.
Above all, the album thrives as a cohesive whole. Each track feeding into the next with a lot of weight, and its unity is undeniable. It’s a nocturnal listen meant to be absorbed in stillness and introspection.
ZR