Chain D.L.K.
This album counts to the few, which you hear 1 or 2 times, but then you turn it away for a while (... so at least it happened to me...). Before it starts to collect dust, you'll pick up this seemingly uncomfortable album again to give it some more spins. A tiny wonder happens, because everything, you've found uninspired, plain and platitudinous before, now seems to have developed, yes, some of the tracks are now sounding clever arranged and offer the needed portion of emotion in the vocals. Signed to the US-based label Nilaihah Records, Mr. And Mrs. Barbero are hailing out of Rochester, NY. The album title 'H On Earth' surely doesn't mean a place called 'Hell', as the music of this duo rather touches Synth-/Futurepop-, Trance- Alternative- and EBM-genres. What has eventually disturbed a better impression after the first spins may belongs on the fact, that SILENT AUCTION aren't that kind of a sugar-sweet Synthpop-act with gay-ish vocals and a catchy Electronica sound-design. You definitely need to give them some more spins to let them grow on you. You will be rewarded for your patience with a diverse sounding album in the above described smoother styles, whose brilliance hides in the sarcastic, at times humorous nailing lyrics ('Good Girl' ' that one reminds me on my 9-years-old daughter in her 'best' phases...). With often changing the lead vocalist between Terri and Jason Barbero, they additionally include variations into their whole concept. 'Heart Attack' is musically the most catchiest tune, a brilliant expressed broken-heart story featuring rich synthesizer pads. The opener 'Beautiful Mess' balances well between a classic Synthpop- and Trance-influences. Also worth to mention are the two remix contributions by MIND.IN.A.BOX, who do an awesome job with their breathtaking programming abilities on 'Reverie', and COSMICITY, who rather add dancefloor-compatibility on 'Heart Attack' - which (of course) destroys the heart-felting mood of the original. SILENT AUCTION have hammered out a quality album not to underestimate, it stands for a variable alternative in the Synth-/Futurepop-genre.

Blackvector
Recently joined the US label Nilaihah Records, Silent Auction are here with the brand new album "H On Earth". Silent Auction was formed in 1997 and after several changes in the line-up the band now consists of the founder Jason Barbero and Terri Snyder together with live drummer Brendan Bulson. The debut album "Amber Lights" arrived in 2006 and now four years later the band returns with their new creation in "H On Earth".

With catchy melodies and strong refrains Silent Auction delivers one great track after the other. The combination of electropop and synthpop with the more heavier EBM makes it really great. Overall the production work is really something you can't complain about. A fresh sound with driving beats and clean electronics Silent Auction is for sure a band to keep an eye on and with powerful tracks like "Reverie", "Detour", "Good Girl" or even the touching "Restless" proves that the band can deliver high class songs. However, the tracks "Rhythm" and "Blueface" is two songs that that I feel not simply fitting in with the rest of the tracks.

The album brings you through many different paths during this 70 minute long journey with both up-tempo tracks or even slower songs like the mellow "Fastlane" that got a really nice feeling. As a bonus, two remixes are included from mind.in.a.box and Cosmicity. ---Björn, Blackvector.se

Reflections of Darkness
SILENT AUCTION was founded by Jason Barbero in Rochester, NY already in 1997. Started as an industrial project, the formation did not assume its current style until 2003 when the line-up was completed with Theresa "Terry" Snyder, after which the band has moved more into the direction of Future Pop, largely shedding its underground roots. After several self-releases, EP's, singles and compilation appearances, Barbero and Snyder, currently working as a duo, now bring forth a full length album. 'H on Earth' consists of twelve tracks of which 'NB Sadness' and 'Good Girl' have been previously released in single and EP format. The latter one is without a doubt the catchiest track on the album - it's tacky but will work on dance floors. There is also remixes of 'Reverie' and 'Heart Attack' by MIND.IN.A.BOX. and COSMICITY, respectively. SILENT AUCTION's dance floor and radio-friendly FUTURE POP sound is influenced predominantly by trance and EBM. The music is well performed and produced but unmoving. Vocals are in overall heavily processed, and, although it admittedly is part of Dance / Future Pop style, especially on 'Heart Attack' the usage of auto tune is so heavy it sounds very 2002. From what can be figured out under all that processing, both members of the band would appear to be decent singers - in which case, less would most likely be more. Other than that, there's hardly anything to really dislike about 'H on Earth' but, unfortunately, the lack of gripping choruses and memorable melody lines leaves the album without hit potential.

Rating:
Music: 6
Sound: 8
Extras: -
Total: 7 / 10
Written by Hemi Malkki
Monday, 23 August 2010

Side-Line Magazine
This American duo operating from New York has been active for a couple of years. After several self-releases they now joined Nilaihah Records to launch the cool "H On Earth"-album. The sound of Silent Auction can be the best described as the offspring between electro-pop and EBM. A few technoid elements join in on some songs, but the main spirit of the album remains pop-like. The 2nd song "Reverie" perfectly illustrates their work and reminds me a bit to the style of Namnambulu. There's an excellent lead carrying this song. A song that really gets into mind is "Good Girl". We here get funny and sexy lyrics sung by their female singer. The male backings joining in are adding a nice touch. This song can be easily defined as power-pop. A next song in a similar vein is "Rhythm" featuring a great bass line and technoid bleeps. This is a more EBM approach of making hard and danceable pop music. The fans of the band knew this song from a previous remix-album. Silent Auction unleash all their creativity on songs like "Heart Attack" and "Freedom And Chance". Both songs stand for an intelligent production. The last mentioned song reminds me a bit to the style of The Azoic. There's a similar way of mixing popmusic with other elements and the technoid bleeps running through this song are fascinating. This is an album filled with refreshing pop elements, which finally resulted in a fascinating modern electro-pop album.
ED:7/8

A Different Drum
Silent Auction is a band to watch as they emerge from the underground, playing a great combination of catchy tunes, edgy lyrical sarcasm, and quality electronic production. ---Todd Durrant, A Different Drum

Gothic Paradise
This band got their start several years ago under the foundation of Jason Barbaro and Jason Rowe with their harsh industrial noise. img However, the band we know today is quite a bit different at the time of this release. Currently it's composed of the trio Jason Barbero, Terri Snyder and Brendon Bulson and features a melodic electro-pop style with swooshing synths, layers of electronic loops, male and female vocals all over a fast-paced dance-friendly beat. This album comes packed with twelve original solid tracks with two additional bonus remixes for a nice, full body of music.

I have to admit that my first exposure to this band was their satyrical piece "Good Girl" which really churned my stomach. While the electronics are fun, I groaned as I pictured another sassy, sexual-image-driven satyrical band and didn't return to listen to any more for a while. But as with many albums I'll often return and check out additional selections and finally sat down to listen to the album in it's entirety. To say I was shocked was an understatement, what in the world "Good Girl" is doing on this album is beyond me, and why it seemed to always show up as the "hit" for this album when I researched the band is also a mystery. While "Beautiful Mess" still features female-fronted vocals and lyrics right along the borderline of pop music and culture, it remains true enough to the alternative synth and electro genres that it's actually a really nice piece in the end. But as you move on through the album and hear tracks like "Reverie" with the deep, emotionally dripping vocals over the heavy electronics or "Detour" which feature's the female vocals once again, but this time along these more emotional melodic electro-pop styles, then I was captivated and knew this album really had some potential. In fact, if you leave "Good Girl" aside, this is a really stellar album.

As I've been able to listen to it several times over the past few weeks I was pleased to hear one excellent piece after another. Favorites include the already mentioned "Reverie" and "Detour". The male vocals are great mixed with the dark and heavy, yet dance-friendly music on "Reverie" and others, include "Resltess" which has also quickly become a favorite from this disc. Most readers here will be familiar with the unique style of Mind.In.A.Box and the inclusion of the remix from this band of "Reverie" made the similarities really click with me. The tracks with the heavier, darker vocals and styles are quite reminiscent of those from Mind.In.A.Box's own pieces with the darker, deeper vocals, so this remix fits in perfectly with the album. Nearly every track has that moving dance-friendly beat, including the almost ballad-like pieces "Heart Attack" or "NB Sadness". This latter piece makes a great finale to the album (not counting the bonus remixes) and also quickly became a favorite.

So overall it's a nice album. I'm usually more of a sucker for the female vocals, but I have to admit that the deep, emotional male vocals mixed with the dark and brooding, yet driving dance-friendly music really captures my attention. Highly recommended for fans of bands within these related genres.

Rating: 4/5

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