There is a sense of shifting landscapes in The Great Calm, the latest album from the post-punk outfit Whispering Sons. Since their inception, the Belgian quintet have crafted a mélange of darkness and distance that echoes through the abandoned hallways of post-punk’s vast castle. Yet, in this, their third full-length, a discernible pivot suggests a band grappling with their past while courting the uncertain future. Amidst the release of The Great Calm, Whispering Sons will be showcasing their sound live at Control Club on Wednesday, May 22.
The band’s historical foundation—often paralleling Bauhaus and Siouxsie & The Banshees—remains evident yet evolves akin to bands like Dry Cleaning. With The Great Calm, Whispering Sons have somewhat veered away from the omnipotent darkness of Several Others (2021) and the grandeur of Image (2018).
From the onset, tracks like the somber Standstill submerge listeners in the familiar waters of introspection that the band navigates so adeptly. But here, the waters are stirred, reflecting the twisted visages of nostalgia enveloped by a fresher, brisk chill.
Cold City follows suit, offering a strangely tender portrait of urban decay, painted with icy synths and the sorrowful strokes of Kuppens’ vocals. Here, the influence of American poet Louise Glück on Kuppens’ writing should be noted. Her prevailing themes of decay and rebirth seep into lyrics inspired by the desolation of a burnt-out car with poetic depth.