Justin Russo, the frontman for The Silent League, paid his dues as the touring keyboard player with Mercury Rev in the late 1990s. It is an experience he has put to good use. Russo even has a touch of Jonathan Donahue in his reedy vocal delivery. The music is also dreamlike and fantasy-filled so fans of "The Rev" should certainly enjoy it but this record has an atmosphere of its own which summons up images of classic black and white films; this is obviously the case with a song entitled 'Motion Picture' but 'Goliath' even flirts with the Bond theme for 'You Only Live Twice'. You won't find this group rocking out; the closest they get is on the single 'The Catbird Seat' which features a slightly menacing chorus but generally the mood is sedate and relaxed. 'Time' is tender and uplifting; underpinned by the saddest of piano melodies, 'Glass Walls' is beautifully sung by Russo and 'Linus' is sheer, languid loveliness. These are songs for the underdogs in life who are always hopeful that things will turn out for the best in the end.