Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

The silent majority stay silent either through fear or through reckless choice, perhaps with the thought hammering at the back of their minds that there may be an advantage of financial gain or swift advancement if they don’t condone or speak up about the evils that society is capable of enacting on behalf of its Government; it a silence that is as despicable as the actions that are perpetrated and as wicked as history sees fits to write about.

It is the silent majority who should at times quake with fear that they will be written about, that the person who doesn’t point out the insanity of the Nazi salute is as bad as the person doing the action in the first place. It is The Silent Majority to whom Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar take on in their stunning third album as a partnership, an album that is swift and compelling and complete.

The duo are joined by Laurence Blackadder, Ali Levack, Hannah Martin and Tom Wright on the album and yet despite the expanse of sound generated by this intelligent inclusion of musicians, the recording still has that homely, haunting resonance of the two musicians who first recorded together whilst still at their various schools.

To listen to anyone grow in prominence as they mature in age and spirit is a pleasure, an honour for the senses and as The Silent Majority is at pains to point out, the music has grown, the men are delving deeper into their terrific talent to bringing songs of exquisite taste and demonstrative, emotional ties to the foreground whilst at all times making sure that the listener is aware of the social commentary they ask to be recognised as a truth of the age.

With the bulk of the songs made up of vocals, violin, bouzouki, banjo and guitar, all played with adept feeling and angry passion by the pair, the album rises up against intolerance and offers a sense of protection to which is welcome and comfortable. Songs such as The Intruder, Did You Like The Battle, Sir?, Swipe Right and the blistering album title track The Silent Majority are there to be immersed within, they are there to urge the listener to make the right choice and not just be a passive cog waiting for the next list of dissenters to be printed up.

Another album by the folk duo to which listening, truly opening your ears to, is a pleasure, an honour.

Ian D. Hall