Silence is a funny fellow

Someone requested that I post the Vade side of the split 12” with Jough Dawn Baker, so here it finally is. As I said before, these songs are every bit as good as the JDB side, especially considering that the average age of the band members at the time they recorded this, in 1997, was around fifteen or sixteen. The music is not as chaotic as JDB's, with more drawn-out arrangements and build-ups leading to grandiose-sounding choruses, but I distinctly remember seeing these guys play for the first time, not knowing what to expect, and my jaw literally dropping thirty seconds into their set.

The lyrics also merit a mention. Lines like “Expectation always steals the upper hand. Swoop down, crush, like a tiger” (‘Brigitte Bardot’) or “only the willows will weep softly to themselves, blowing in the winds of desire” (‘Winter Recovery System’) are a nice departure from the whiny heartbroken emo-lyricism that was prevalent in those days and that, over the last few years, has migrated to the heavier music of certain bands whose members wear too much make-up. But to each their own. “Since these days are all just paintings, I can no longer tell.”

Aside from this batch of songs, Vade also released a demo cassette and a 7”, Saturn, on World of Hurt and Edema Records. The last song below, ‘Baltimore,’ is from that record. You’ll notice it’s a lot quieter and also features vocal contributions from Hannah, Vade’s drummer. As such, it’s generally indicative of where they went with their sound, or where they would have taken it, had this not been their last release. It’s, well, very Northwest.

Members of Vade went on to play in the Blood Brothers, among others. Go to Excursion for more info.

Vade – Brigitte Bardot
Vade – Jupiter, beyond the infinite
Vade – Winter Recovery System
Vade – Baltimore