Moon and Aries deal with ‘In the Silence of the Hills’ in a deliberately relaxed manner; it is a cinematic piece devoid of drums which is based on the idea of moving away from the noise of everyday life and re-establishing a link with nature, stillness and the present moment. Rather than swiftly progressing towards a normal rhythmic pattern, the song allows its atmosphere to develop slowly. The piano provides the foundation for the piece while analog synth textures form a wide electronic background. The result is intimate and reflective, giving each element plenty of space to breathe.
What gives the song its human touch is Jordana Moon’s warm and vulnerable singing. Her voice matches the open musical setup and presents the lyrics in such a way that it brings out the song’s themes of connection and stillness without overwhelming the other musical parts. The instrumentation also carefully expands the emotional scope, with a cello played by Zara Hudson-Kozdoj, an atmospheric guitar by Peter J. Mitchell, and an expressive saxophone performed by Hanna Marchand; each of these elements adds a further dimension to the composition while at the same time keeping its restrained character.
A major choice in the song is the decision not to include drums. Instead of employing percussion to give the impression of movement, «In the Silence of the Hills» achieves progression through the use of piano, analog synth keys, cello, guitar, saxophone and voice. The way the music is produced has a natural quality without at the same time giving up its cinematic electronic character. The extensive production means that all the sounds can be clearly heard, resulting in a sense of openness rather than one of density.
As the fourth track on the upcoming five-song “Prairie Souls” EP, this single represents a stage in the evolution of Moon and Aries whereby they move from their cinematic electronic style to one that makes greater use of organic instruments and places a stronger focus on human connection. Chris Kung and Francois Rocheleau were in charge of the mixing and mastering, and the track maintains a carefully controlled presentation right until the end. “In the Silence of the Hills” is music that has been developed through patience, atmosphere and space, a piece which encourages the listener to slow down and simply be present.
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