The Silent Game (band)
The Silent Game is a three-piece, folk/electronic/rock outfit based in Sacramento, CA.
History
Following breakups of their respected bands Malisma, Surefire and My Merry Malady in 2004-2005, members Sam Archer, Gabriel Becker and Brian Strand formed the band around what was supposed to be a "solo" album—an album recorded in Sam's apartment with an electronic drum kit, and acoustic guitar and Pro Tools LE. The resulting album, Making Plans to Leave the Doldrums, is a mixture of folk rock guitar, electronic drums and computer-generated textures.
Due to the budget and time constraints of working independently as a musician with a full-time and inspired by DIY artists like Boston's Tom Scholtz, Archer found it necessary to record at home, making use of his formal education in recording arts from Full Sail University. Armed with the experience gleaned from the failures and successes in recording his prior band and with many scattered pages of incomplete lyrics and audio samples, he embarked on his first "solo" project in 2004, creating the debut album Making Plans to Leave the Doldrums.
Instruments, Recording Techniques, Etc
Most songs on Making Plans to Leave the Doldrums were created by synchronizing two software products, Reason (software) and Pro Tools, via Propellerhead's Rewire protocol. Once the MIDI was composed in Pro Tools (typically by drawing notes rather than by performing) and routed to Reason, the audio output of reason could be routed into pro tools for mixing with real guitars, vocals and bass.
Guitars Used
- Fender Stratocaster
- Martin D-15
- Ovation Applause
Microphones Used
- Studio Projects C1
- Shure Beta-58
Software used in music creation/recording
- Pro Tools
- Reason (software)
Musical Influences
- Smashing Pumpkins
- Elliot Smith
- Radiohead
- Portishead
- Nine Inch Nails
- My Bloody Valentine
- The Police