The Wiretap Scars (Keeper Of The Chaos)

“The Interviews over…” croons Daniel Johns over a flurry of keys and sonic manipulation on the opening track of the new offering from the Australian lads Silverchair, their fifth studio album to date.

Now I won’t beat around the bush here, Silverchair have been a bit of a punching bag for myself over the last few years. After loving the dirty grunge of the 1995 debut ‘Frogstomp’ and it’s followup ‘Freakshow’ I was confused by the shifting and changing of the band into its more grand scale stadium band that they are today. Now dramatic transformations of bands can effect people in different ways, take Radiohead for example. The change between O.K Computer to Kid A redefined the band in a way that the orginal fanbase embraced the change and it seemed almost natural. But as for Silverchair, I feel that they have become ‘The Daniel Johns Experence” and less of a combined effort. Ben Gillies thunderous drumming and Chris  Joannou’s hypnotic baselines almost feel synthetic and manufactured throughout Young Modern.

By now I am sure you would have heard Straight Lines somewhere amongst your FM/Music television adventures, and this track sets the scene for the journey to come. I cannot help but be a little infuriated by the inclusion of John’s quasi-lover Paul Mac and the insessent keyboarding on almost every track. And it’s not just keyboard tinkering it is the consistant DUH DUH DUH DUH DUH DUH jazz-keys. It was recently stated by Johns on a Channel V broadcast of Silverchair’s Homebake performance that Mac is his ‘musical soulmate’ and he finds it difficult to perform without him” and that Silverchair becomes a ‘Supergroup’ with his presence. Daniel… what happened to you?

But all gripes and thoughts of the past aside Young Modern is a brave album, taking the style that they started to develop from Neon Ballroom and bringing it to fruitition. ‘All Across The World’ brings memories of the similarly titled ‘Across The Night” from Diorama. ‘Those Thieving Birds/Strange Behavior” tinkles along its seven-minute course harmlessley ‘Mindreader” brings the rare rock moments with the frantic chorus declaring “Don’t know what you want, No I’m not a mindreader baby” while ‘Low’ sounds like a B-Side from The Sleepy Jackson.

If you can look past the “Silverchair” title. And just take it in as a Daniel Johns/Paul Mac cuddling-on-the couch affair and you will discover some well produced music. But as a Silverchair album it is bitterly dissapointing.

5/10