While reminiscing on the sound of their earlier albums, like Swaartekrag and Die Donker Toring, Spoegwolf become quite experimental with their eighth and latest album, SILWER.
Danie du Toit showcases with great flair, once again, why he is considered one of the best SA lyricists of our generation, as his words effortlessly deal with demanding themes like religion, the tenderness of love, the pain of loss, and the pure exultation of freedom.
The song right after the intro, “Onbreekbaar” establishes the mood for what’s to follow with its strong melody and tender lyrics; Hiram Koopman’s silky smooth sax tones; and Moskou du Toit’s heavy and deliberate drumming as the cornerstone, which all leave you feeling invincible.
The album also take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. Danie’s love song to his newly-engaged fiance, “Kylemore”, will have you missing someone you’ve never even met, while “Huisie in die Reën” is goosebump-worthy and evoke the feeling of being serenaded by an angelic choir, ending with a guitar solo that’ll have any sane person yearning for live concerts.
Mid-way track “Lenie Lenie”, takes you on a trip down memory lane, with Danie and icon, David Kramer, doing a rendition of Kramer’s classic with the same title, with Albert van der Merwe (bass) jumping in at the end to spice things up with one of his classic rap verses. Van der Merwe also flexes his poetic rap skills on “Die Hemel se Splinters”, a 19 second track dedicated solely to his passionate penmanship.
The album allows the listener to escape reality for a moment. SILWER creates the perfectly balanced listening experience both for die-hard fans as well as first-time listeners, through its mix of catchy tunes and songs that demand attention.
