Scratch The Sky

Sir Silence And The Hush

Scratch The Sky is the baby of Bill Taylor Beales and boy has this baby grown. The Gate Arts Centre in Cardiff is set to exhibit a second installment of this multi-tiered feast. This time around the themes will come to life with the use of story, projected visuals and live music.

Sir Silence is the pseudonym under which the multi-tasking Bill has chosen to record and perform the accompanying songs. There are alternative biographies and blogs on the 'net for the adventurous. Don't fret though if you only ever encounter the CD it works brilliantly as a stand alone element.

The sound has been cracked out of a classic mould and given some unique twists. Bill admits to prolonged exposure to Dylan and Cohen in his formative years. There's some definite manifestations of their spirits here. In contrast we also get some drone and chime of primetime Velvet Underground. Like these Bill can draw you into his narratives with a guitar and voice alone. The ability to do this shouldn't be underestimated. Once involved in these dreamlike poems though you soon realise the dream has turned sour.

Sir Silence's world is filled with troubled characters. Restless souls all stricken with some form of malady or malaise. In 'Fine And Friendly' people meet on benches where there's 'grot' grit and grind.' Then in 'Standing On This Ledge' we haven't got far before 'Mrs Smith Is Drowning.' All this leads to a wish to 'wake up in somebody else's dream.' The anguish and unanswered questions continue in the two versions of the title track which bookend the CD.

Like Dylan Sir Silence harnesses the elements to heighten the sense of drama. In the beautifully fragile 'Dancing On Ice' a 'White Prophet' is 'just singing of the flood.' Later 'Fire On The Water' instructs us to 'let it burn. let it burn.' He's even bold enough to give us a direct quote from his Bobness,
'The answer my friend is blowing in the wind.'

He's then sharp enough to turn one of the sixties most enduring lines into a modern day conundrum. This crafty couplet is completed with,

'but the question is just crawling along the ground.'

There's a glimmer of hope amongst the philosophical threads. Fighting talk is evident on the CD's central piece. 'Sink All The Boats (Choral Sing-A-Long) fuses an addictive banjo line with some lusty lyrics,
'We're gonna sink all these boats in the Harbour now, you can
dive, you can dive right in. We're gonna sink all these boats in
the harbour now, so pick up your axe and swing.

It's very tangible and joyous. You'll keep coming back for more.

Bill's wife, singer/songwriter Rachel Taylor-Beales assists with some finely woven instrumentation and vocals. In addition the CD's producer, Welsh troubadour Martyn Joseph plays a number of roles. All in all it's a fine illustration of Bill's talents.

Cardiff's very own jingle jangle man has given us some songs of imagination and depth. Take some time to visit and linger in this impassioned world.

David Kushar

Part of the proceeds from the sale of this CD go to the People Around Here Charitable Trust which Bill set up.