Unseen Cord

Salem Hill's ninth studio album, 'The Unseen Cord' / 'Thicker than Water' finds this enigmatic band delivering the familiar high level of musicianship and thoughtful lyrics. However, the band has entered into unfamiliar territory in covering topics that are quite personal to this release's two primary writers, Carl Groves and Michael Dearing. You will find songs about suicide (Hurt), anorexia and ostracization due to body shape (Float), the joy of music (Sing On), loss and despair (So Much More), and the whole question of 'why are we here?' (Butterfly, Holding On, and Noon). Sonically, Salem Hill threw caution to the wind and decided to indulge an area which has long been seen as what sets them apart from almost all contemporary progressive rock bands: their stellar vocals. Building on an already solid foundation, Salem Hill proudly pays vocal homage to Queen, the Beach Boys, and the Carpenters on 'The Unseen Cord' / 'Thicker than Water'. The 28 minute epic closing track, 'Noon', is alone worth the price of admission. Authored by Groves, 'Noon' recounts the aftermath of dealing with a car wreck two of his daughters were involved in--from the simple concern for their recovery, to the worry of lasting impairments, and to the challenges he experienced to his faith. Salem Hill's newest release is easily their most poignantly emotional album since the 1998 masterpiece 'The Robbery of Murder'.