The latest Silverchair album comes after a long gap. Was it worth the wait?
	Australian band, returning after a hiatus following "Neon Ballroom". Verdict on the album? A definite buy. It strikes you on first hearing and demands a replay, some tracks at once in fact which is what I did. I have not heard "Neon Ballroom" yet either!

The Silverchair website.

The Album is now released here in the UK.

Apologies for delay. This site is now one of several dedicated to the memory of my mother Mabel who passed away on April 24th. I miss her greatly.

	Diorama Tracklist below. 1 Across The Night 2 The Greatest View 3 Without You 4 World Upon Your Shoulders 5 One Way Mule 6 Tuna In The Brine 7 Too Much Of Not Enough 8 Luv Your Life 9 The Lever 10 My Favourite Thing 11 After All These Years Single releases Limited Edition in box set Produced by David Bottrill Co-Produced by Daniel Johns. Mixed
Pic above from the enhanced CD
The songs on the album date from the note on the lyrics.
Congratulations to Daniel who was 23 today (22nd. April. Doesn't time fly!

The review below is the initial draft. I plan to edit further.

A point the band make in the sleeve note is that "pitch correction" software is NOT used on Diorama. This technology "corrects" notes that are sung or played out of tune and has become increasingly popular in recent years. Silverchair choose not to use this computer software on their albums as it's their personal belief that such artificial "perfection" (my quotes) diminishes music. In fact "off pitch" notes can be a deliberate and useful element!

Much more info here. Another Silverchair Site To Lyrics

Some of the tracks are sectional and episodic, with unexpected "breaks" midway. This also features in recent tracks by the UK band MUSE, also reviewed on this site. They too have some "orchestral" leanings in evidence. My review is a bit technical in places, but the band have put a hell of a lot into this album. You'll get more out of it with each play!

(1) Across The Night (©D. Johns Jan 2001)(5.37) Van Dyke Parks Paul Mac Piano Unusually, the lyrics enter at the start of this track, as the chorus, over harpsichord, strings and brass! This section alternates with a lighter scored section, returning as chorus, with later, at 3.14 a complete break! with the tempo slowing on "So let us be married" and on to "I just want to be alone", which is repeated several times. A curious false ending too! The track is apparently biographical. Or is it?	(8) Luv Your Life (4.29) Van Dyke Parks Paul Mac Piano. Again begins with part chorus, featuring overlapping vocals and a good deal of harmonic variation and interest in the later repetitions. A full orchestra is used to good effect on the track, with varied orchestrations to suit the sections. The piano is low in the mix this time. The drum kit also features as both a pulse and as a feature too. A strong, well constructed track which is very melodic and has a good ending too! Interesting use of lyrics and a type of wordless effect here.
(2) The Greatest View Larry Muhoberac / Daniel. Jim Mogine Keyboards. A more typical Silverchair sound here, with guitar effects familiar to all.	(9) The Lever Less complex instrumentally, perhaps more like the "old" Silverchair - there are a lot of the familiar guitar effects. The track just stops! No fade here.
(3) Without You (© D. Johns 1998)(5.17) Rob Woolf Hammond Organ Bursts in, full band sound, almost a "pedal" effect behind the vocal, lightening (at 0.25), and a chorus(0.49) with considerable rhythmic complexity, but the melodic line is liable to stick in your mind, The sections are repeated twice, (1.20) but with subtle tonal varuations, particularly the third, (2.24) when the Hammond is more evident. After the chorus appears for the final time, ending on a high, modulated "without you" (at3.14) a very strong wholly instrumental section with alternating guitar effects appears to bring a conclusion, but a curious coda follows, (at 4.15) with atmospheric, phased effects which fade to silence.	(10) My Favourite Thing Larry Muhoberac / Daniel. Paul Mac Piano Guitar and strings, with piano in the mix too. Volume swells on "Favourite Thing". Modulation on "deafened moon" then Repeats "You're My Favourite", and a high passage on "feel like letting go".Repeats "You're My Favourite" with now a considerably modulated coda section.
(4) World Upon Your Shoulders (© D Johns 2000) Larry Muhoberac / Daniel. Paul Mac Piano (4.37) Guitars and piano open, vocals slow and hesitant, very tense indeed. Drums enter in the chorus,(0.52) "Take the world" but the track remains at low volume. (1.21)The opening level returns at "half full glasses" but with new string sounds too.as the sections repeat, but with another closing modulation. (2.20) A different, complex instrumentation, almost metronomic in places in the percussion, with guitar and other orchestral effects backs "Violent, big and violent" which lyric is repeated and modulated, and an extra line is added too.(2.50) An intense instrumental passage where Daniel's guitar is very important follows. (3.32)"When you're world's not feeling ugly" returns again, The closing chorus fades after the third "Take the world upon your shoulders" added here.	(11) After All These Years Opens with piano, then vocal with strings primarily, Strong chorus section which is repeated. Stops at 3.50or so but runs on for a hidden extra track, starting at 8.46, with a solo piano.
(5) One Way Mule (© D. Johns April 2000)(4.15) Jim Moginie Piano and Keyboards A complete break is needed here and boy do we get it! Angry guitar alternates with, and then joins with drums and bass. The vocals are snarling at times and very strong. There are no orchestral sounds here, it's all down to the band.The lyrics are sung over the repeated pattern of the opening for the most part, though "Love me for my mind" is backed differently. An extremely discordant guitar interval (2.40) with hammering drums (good to mosh to!!) cuts without any warning (3.19 ) to "Love me for my mind" where the lighter backing occurs again. The track just stops dead at the end! One hell of a track this! Really heavy sound!	Enhanced element. (special edition only) Jason Paris "Tuna in The Brine" A version of "Tuna In The Brine" has been recorded by a fan, Jason Paris, who also knows the band (he too lives in Merewether) in appreciation of the quality of the track. He has created the whole track in his home studio, and has a recording with vocal and with just the backing on his site. There are also original songs too! Jason Paris Website. E.Mail
(6) Tuna In The Brine (© D. Johns 2000)(5.40) Paul Mac Piano This is a track of epic length. Varied Orchestration is used throughout. Daniel sings over chilling low strings at first. (0.24) Drumming is delicate and subdued, with brass and other sounds too "don't lose your heart".(1.20) almost falsetto, then with multi - tracked vocals "take". 2.14 "don't lose your heart" repeats and modulates "take". 3.17 very light again, strings etc and guitar "painting a lie" again repeats "closer to everything" and eventually at "Closer now than we ever hav been"(4.) the level rises and modulates, to a sustained high passage with complex orchestration until the coda gently fades on the title lyric. Needs a replay!
(7) Too Much Of Not Enough (© D. Johns 2000) Paul Mac Piano Guitar and keyboards begin, a simple verse / chorus song in three sections with an extended coda, with overlapping lyrics. Again there is a shift before the last section. The third repeat of "When I came along" is given a modulation on "along", perhaps one example of the slightly "off key" notes?
P.K.Murphy.

This page created 21st. April 2002 Updated January 26th. 2003.