The City Paper (Nashville, TN) Silent Sound Nightfall (Spring Hill) As the title track for Nightfall cascades through the room, you can’t help be lulled into a sea of aural tranquility. It is the perfect mood music for relaxation and is a wonderfully divergent musical adventure for two of Nashville’s most heralded musicians — Butch Baldassari of the Grammy-nominated Nashville Mandolin Ensemble and Emmy-nominated composer/songwriter/performer Dave Hoffner — who make up the New Age group Silent Sound. Featuring ethereal and melodic mandolin, mandola, mandocello and octave mandolin lines along with other lush acoustic instrumentation layered with angelic keyboard and woodwind sounds and the occasional female vocal, Nightfall is the rare New Age CD that is equally as wonderful for active listening for its high-level of musicianship and passive entertainment for romantic nights at home. Some of the standout tracks along with the title composition are “La Paz,” featuring some truly inspired harmonica work from Jim Hoke, composer Michael Hoppé’s “Moon Ghost War” and “Frangenti” by composer Massimo Gatti. The mandolin never sounded so good. — Drew Walen Musical Soundscapes Nightfall by Silent Sound Country and bluegrass music has presented the energetic and somewhat rambunctious side of the mandolin family for decades. Now, perhaps for the first time, listeners get to appreciate the soothing and relaxing virtues of the mandolin in this extraordinary debut release from Silent Sound. Soothing atmospherics and acoustic strings take listeners on a gentle ride highlighted with whistles, flutes and ethereal female voicing that is both deeply moving and relaxing. Presenting listeners with the soft side of Nashville, Butch Baldassari and Dave Hoffner have come together as Silent Sound and brought with them a whole new musical experience that is sure to touch the ears and hearts of audiences the world over. Perfect for unwinding after a busy day, as background music for creative endeavors, or for setting and maintaining a relaxing atmosphere for body massage. Even suitable for dreamtime, Nightfall is probably the beautiful and relaxing album to come out of Nashville, and one that easily receives my highest recommendation to all. -Robert Walmsley Wind & Wire SILENT SOUND Nightfall Spring Hill Music (2002) Ushered in with what may be the prettiest song I've heard all year, Silent Sound's debut recording, Nightfall, is a fantastic recording and is, with ease, among the best in the genre for the past year. Silent Sound is comprised of a duo that includes a mandolin player (Butch Baldassari) and a multi-instrumentalist (David Hoffner) who plays everything from bass to keyboards to woodwinds and percussion - You may be thinking (as I did) a MANDOLIN player? However, trust me, you have seldom (if ever) heard mandolin played in such a sublime and restrained manner as on this recording. Baldassari's stringed instrument (actually, assorted variations on the mandolin) is perfectly complemented by the arsenal at Hoffner's disposal. The mood throughout the recording is peaceful, reflective, and so drenched in beauty that it's almost unbearable to listen to if you're emotionally vulnerable - the music is simply that evocative. If I had to make a comparison (for the sake of description) I'd probably say cross the neo-chamber side of Tim Story with the softer less Irish side of Nightnoise and you will be getting warm. The mandolin adds a strong acoustic and natural feel to the music which is balanced by some of the best recorded synthesizers (strings and textural sounds) I've heard on a non-ambient recording in a long time. Joining Hoffner and Baldassari on this CD, by the way, is Jim Hoke, who contributes on various wind instruments, such as recorder, flute, clarinet, et al. And while both Hoffner and Hoke do a fantastic job, I gotta say it's that damn mandolin that almost brings tears to my eyes. And boy, was I suprised at my reaction! The songs here are a combination of originals by Hoffner and compositions by people like Michael Hoppe and some others whom, I hate to admit it, I don't recognize (such as Charlie Provenza and John Miller). My faves include the opening title track (I LOVE that opening synth chorus, bell tree, and shim-mering keyboard, before sampled guitar and Baldassari's mandolin begin a slow and somber duet), the haunting "As Far As I Can See" (mandolin played against a shadowy flute refrain), the sad-sounding "The Path Downhill" (showcasing Hoffner's abilities on both sampled instruments and the real ones, and the aptly-titled "For The Rainy Days" which is all about sitting in front of the window recalling broken hearts, missed opportunities, and deep regrets. In all honesty, I can't remember a more evocative acoustic-electronic new age music recording. Nightfall has no weaknesses that I can discern (even the cover, featuring the famous Haystack Rock off-shore from Cannon Beach, Oregon, at sunset, is so damn beautiful I want to frame it!). But as good as the outward graphics are, the music is ten times better. If you love music that features a blend of both acoustic and electronic instruments and that is unafraid to be sincerely sentimental (yet never saccharine or phony), played with feeling and conviction by artists who have skill and heart, Silent Sound's Nightfall will almost assuredly cast a spell over you. This is ideal late night music. Whether talking into the wee hours with a loved one, reading a good book, or just reflecting by the fire, I can't recommend a better soundtrack for the quiet times. The album earns my highest recommendation. The New Times Tranquil and enchanting, Nightfall, our album of the month, spotlights the relaxing side of the mandolin family, supporting the acoustic string section with a bed of lush keyboards and subtle woodwinds. The mandolin has recently enjoyed an upsurge in popularity thanks to its central role in bluegrass music, but allow yourself to be surprised and transported by the pure and serene side of this multifaceted instrument.

Nightfall Reviews