The Listening

“What the f*ck is really going on in the world? I wondered. Why are they telling me not to prepare for destruction? This is the sound of destruction and it’s pretty f*cking convincing.”
 
Those lines from the book How Soon Is Never by Marc Spitz are the definitive statement made by a young boy struggling find his identity, which later becomes a anarchist punk then an obsessed Smiths fan. It’s a universal theme of rebellion against authority figures. I began with this quote because, even though I am 30-years-old, I often feel the rebellion bubble up from time to time, plus it reminded me of seeing The Listening earlier that night at The Rutledge.

The Listening places you in a wartime rally. During the performance I was immersed in a visual, audio and physical frenzy. The rear of the stage was covered by an off-white partition with a big screen television in the center. Projectors filled the entire back wall with clips from old films and hypnosis-inducing psychedelic images. The same images are simultaneously played on the center screen but flanked with multi-colored strobes. The world may not have been coming to an end, but I felt like it was. Overwhelmed with flashing lights, images of triumph and defeat, band members dressed in black/gray ensembles, the sounds of planes overhead, dialogue of old men barking orders and my rib cage vibrating with the booming music - it was sensory overload, and I loved every minute of it.    
 
Akin to the musicians who played as The Titanic sank, The Listening kept me romantically distracted from the chaos. They began with the comforting “Fight With You” - I’m gonna fight with you/I’m gonna bleed with you/I’m gonna cry with you until this wall crumbles. The room quickly filled with people standing on chairs and tables to view the spectacle. There was no room to walk. I think we all felt confused with a desperate attempt to understand, but safe with some sort of trust that The Listening could help us interpret the information being forced upon us. They didn’t appear to have a motive. If they did, I could have been easily brainwashed. If you’ve seen the Pink Floyd laser show, then you’ll know what I mean when I type: it’s like an acid-trip without the acid. And with the mention of Pink Floyd, the sounds-like floodgates have been opened … although I am frustrated that I cannot think of whom the singer sounds like. His vocals are a non-English mixture of several 80s alternative UK front men. Despite that bit of mind-malarkey, members Gabriel S. Wilson (lead vocal and guitar, keys), Kyle Reid (bass, Moog), Nolan Russom (drums, keys, backing vocals) and Josiah Schmidt (Rhodes, Moogs, keys, synths, guitars) collectively remind of Secret Machines, The Killers (during “When”), Radiohead and Phantom Planet (during “The End”), Muse, Interpol, Wilco (only at the end of “Fight With You” and if you’re familiar with Yankee Hotel Foxtrot) and assorted UK 80s alternative bands. The aforementioned tunes are on The Listening’s EP titled Transmission 1 which is best heard with headphones or live, of course. - NashvilleRock.net

The world hasn't heard from The Listening for a few years now, but that's all changing quickly as the band has re-emerged with new members, a new EP, and a refreshed vision. The Transmission 1 EP is now available from the band with promise of a new full-length due out next year, so we took some time with front man Gabriel Wilson to discuss where The Listening has been... and where they are going.
This interview took place on: 11/20/08.

Jesus freak Hideout (John DiBiase): What lead you to leave your hometown and relocate to Nashville?
Gabriel Wilson: When Tedd T. expressed a lot of interest in working with our band, we jumped at the chance. With our new creative relationship with Tedd, I found it a good idea to move to Franklin, TN to be closer to the record making process with him... What I didn't expect to find in Franklin was such a great community of artistic people who were so open to helping each other out, being friends, etc. Other communities I'd lived in had a bit of a competitive nature in their "scene." Not the case here. It's a great place to live and do business...

JFH (John): It seemed like somewhere around mid 2006 or so that The Listening went into hiding. Can you tell us a little about how that happened?
Gabe: We progressed throughout 2006 making music and touring pretty regularly in Europe, but at some point we as "The Listening" began to stray away from our vision. Our reason for even being a band was based on creating an environment of music, art, etc by which people would experience the presence of God. When that vision was compromised, all Hell broke loose. And without that vision keeping us grounded and focused, we simply disintegrated as a band and as friends... It took quite some time before I recognized it. I remember it very clearly... My father and mother sitting me down and saying, "Son, since you've ignored your responsibility to point people to Christ with your music and your message, look at all that's happened." Personal tragedies, a horrific van accident, failing relationships, etc... It was a difficult, eye-opening conversation. It has taken a lot of time to rebuild and put the elements back together again. A lot of soul searching, and a lot of contemplation and prayer... It's a bit strange, really, but I put it all into a song on Lovely is Death before it even happened--almost like it was prophetic. "If you don't know where it is you've gone, then go back to the place that you started from." It's what Abraham did every time he missed God's leading. He'd go back to the altar where he last met the Lord, and try to get back on track. In a sense, that's where we've been and what we've been doing - Getting back on track.

JFH (John): How did the current band roster come together? What have they brought to the band’s current sound?
Gabe: The Listening are -
Gabriel S. Wilson - (lead vocals, rhodes, guitars)
Nolan Russom - (drums, vocals)
Kyle Reid - (bass, fuzz, moogs)
Josiah Schmidt - (keys, pads, synths, moogs, guitars)

Nolan, Josiah, and Kyle have all been friends of mine for quite a few years now. They are all musicians from Longview, WA who were in bands in that area that had grown up around The Listening. (The Harps, Dead Melodies). Nolan was the first to step in as our drummer. Josiah came on board shortly after as our keys player. Kyle came on in January this year... There was a point at which I was contemplating quitting all together. But my friends would say, "Hey, we believe in this music. We believe in you, and what God has done through The Listening's music and ministry... Don't stop! Let's keep it going!" These guys were friends of mine... friends that had stuck by me through some pretty tough situations. They gave me the strength to keep it going, not only logistically but also spiritually and emotionally. Nolan is a pretty incredible drummer-- he's super rock solid. His voice pairs pretty well with mine as he does backing vocals and such. He's also a great guitarist and writer... Though he doesn't play guitar live, he'll often help out writing guitar lines or pitching ideas. Josiah is busy dabbling in everything, from the visual arts of our live show to a rhodes/moog/synth and guitar attack ala Johnny Greenwood. From song to song, he's back and forth from his two stations on stage making as much beautiful noise as possible. I think one of the largest shifts in our band's sound is the addition of Kyle. He's a heck of a bass player. In the past, we've done all of our low end on an old Moog. Kyle uses the Moog at times, and then also a 1967 P-bass for fuzz tones and intricate bass lines. It has added a much more exciting dynamic to our music.

JFH (John): Can you tell us a little about your new EP, Transmission 1? Why the title? Why the unique song titling? What are your musical influences for it? Is there a plan for more EP’s like this one with similar titles?
Gabe: Transmission 1 is a short burst of communication, you might say. We've come out on the other side of 3-4 years of feeling a bit lost in space--as if a 'pause' button had been pushed. Though we've been steadily working away on so much new music, we've hardly travelled or made any contact with our fans. It's a creative way of saying "we're back...and there's much more to come." The musical influences are very much the same as they've always been--Pink Floyd, Radiohead, perhaps EU music in general. Those haven't really changed... Tedd T's production has had a huge influence in the sonic shape of the record. He uses much different recording techniques than we are accustomed to using. And with his help, we've been challenging ourselves to write melodies with a bit more sensibility--sorta as we had done in the past on The Listening EP. I've made mention of this before, but there is a HUGE amount of material that we've been working on since we put out The Listening LP in 2005. We've begun recording 30+ songs since the beginning of 2006. With all of that material in the can, we opted to place some of the more "accessible" songs we had written on Transmission 1. The Listening LP was a collection of songs that strayed away from typical song structures. They were more slow moving, mid tempo, not too much energy--more hypnotic than anything. Very melancholy, and quite beautiful... With Transmisison 1, we thought it best to show off the songs that would expand our live show (with more energy), and also show our fans some new facets of our writing... The songs titles? Those are hints... clues to the meaning of each song. The most obvious being "The End." Its hint is "Sweating blood and a game of spin the bottle in a Jerusalem Garden." You'll notice the lyrics speak of love, betrayal, and it not being "the end." It's a song with several references to Jesus and Judas. Jesus sweat blood in the garden, Judas kissed Him on the cheek. Thus the title. I suppose it could be self-indulgent artistry. But I don't know... sometimes it's fun to paint in colours that aren't quite so obvious in their tone.

JFH (John): Your recent blogs have kind of followed the “Transmission” theme and even displayed some sci-fi, Star Trek influence. What inspired this approach?
Gabe: I was trying to capture what the past 3 years had meant to me. The disappointment, the feeling of being buried in so much songwriting and recording. The loss of friendships, the darkness and vacuum a broken relationship brings... And the good things, too... The new sense of discovery, the new sonics, the different techniques of working with Tedd T's recording style (Logic/Digital) vs. our old analogue ways. It was all there. And of course, the internet is a universe all unto itself. It is vast and unexplored. It was like being lost in time and space...

JFH (John): The songs on Transmission 1 are considerably less dark and moody than The Listening LP. Was this intentional or did it happen kind of naturally?
Gabe: Well...again, we opted for the more accessible songs for Transmission 1 for the reasons I've stated. But also, it should be noted the fact that 3 years have gone by since the LP. And as artists, we felt we already created the LP, and it was time to be challenged into new thoughts and ideas, new sounds, tempos, and atmospheres. My head space as a lyricist is shifting constantly as I'm inspired to find better ways of communicating the Gospel, life's experiences, and perspectives... So in a sense, it was both a deliberate move, and yet a very natural progression...

JFH (John): The songs on Transmission 1 also seem to all revolve around relationships specifically more than the previous LP – almost more like your solo project Lovely Is Death.
Gabe: A while back, Martin Smith and I were talking and he said to me, "Gabe... do you know what you need to write about? You need to write about Love. Love, discovery, and the Mysteries of Christ--and how they all intertwine." That conversation has been with me ever since. To speak of a broken relationship is to also speak of our broken relationship with Him. The longing, the regret, the remorse, the feeling of having lost your way... All of that. To speak of a relationship being healed is also to be speaking of our healed relationship with Him. The feeling of resolve, of being restored. The ache is gone, and now you have the joy of discovery... In my mind's eye, being a Christian simply means being a man in relationship with Christ. I am married to Him. I am walking in friendship with Him. Whatever frame you'd like to put it in... we are in relationship. It wasn't always that way for me. There was a time in my life where I called myself a Christian, went to church, loved others, etc... But my relationship with God was less of a relationship of friendship and love, and more like an employee/employer relationship--one where I feared Him because I didn't want to piss off the boss and get fired, so to speak. It was all respect and servitude. It was distant and aloof... But now, it's much different. I've discovered a greater relationship--the mystery of Christ in love and discovery, of regret and healing, grace and mercy... So I find myself now writing about relationships--my own, mine with Him, His relationships with others in the Bible (like Judas, etc). I'm fascinated by it.

JFH (John): Tell us about the song “When?”
Gabe: The chorus of "When" really sums it up, "When you're lost, you know I'm never far from where You are." There's the feeling of God being distant, the feeling that you've lost Him. I know, having gone through a lot of personal tragedy, the tendency is to believe that God doesn't like you anymore, that He's not with you. And so I wrote this chorus to address that. At the time, it was His song to me... "When you can't hold on much longer...When you're weak I'll make you stronger...When you're lost you know I'm never far from where you are. When you're all alone and wishing...When your prayers have hit the ceiling...When you're lost you know I'm never far from where you are."

JFH (John): Can you share about “Prayer In The Dark”?
Gabe: "Prayer in the Dark" is like an auto-biography of my walk with God. There's not much mystery to it, really. As I look back and I survey my life, I'm thankful to have lived this story. I'm thankful to serve a God who answered those prayers spoken from a dark place....

JFH (John): What is the story behind “Fight With You?”
Gabe: "Fight with You" is a song written from God's perspective to someone abandoned, alone, and too weak to fight to live another day. There are several media clips in the beginning and end of the song. They represent all of the confusion and all of the other voices that cloud our perception and keep us from being able to think and hear clearly... "Peace turns into madness" and "colour turns to monochrome" as we go through painful times.

JFH (John): What’s next for The Listening? When might fans hear another EP or a full-length?
Gabe: We are continuing into a massive exploration of live visual arts during our live show. TV's, LED's, Projectors... Visual arts have been our passion since the beginning of this year, doing our best to communicate even broader and greater messages more effectively throughout our live shows. Also, next year there will be a full-length album. And we are more than excited about it... It's called LMNOP. It is also produced with Tedd T. It will be a nice marriage of our darker tones, more intimate sounds... But at the same time, will display some of the melodic sensibility of Transmission 1. The Listening - LMNOP. Get ready :)

JFH (John): Why the title LMNOP? What does it mean?
Gabe: It is philosophical in its meaning. The letters LMNOP are essentially in the center of the alphabet. It's our way of saying "we've not reached the end of the journey. Rather, we are in its center." We've found our center... We're right where we're supposed to be.

JFH (John): What has God been teaching you lately?
Gabe: The miracle of redemption...

JFH (John): Any last comments?
Gabe: I'd just like to thank JFH for all of the support throughout the past 6 years of my musical endeavors. From Big Star to Tranmission 1, you guys have been so great to us--and even to other bands. You have helped keep indie music in the CBA alive... :) You've given indie music an equal voice among the major CCM voices. I'm very, very thankful for you guys...
- John Dibiase

It's tough for me to review EP's since I usually never buy them for their lack of substance. However, when one of my favorite bands hasn't released any new material in close to 4 years I tend to get giddy with excitement and make exceptions... and it was a wise choice.

Yeah, it's only 4 songs, but they combine for a solid 20 minutes of music that I can't get enough of. In a recent interview, Gabriel (vocalist) stated that these songs are the most accessible of the 30-some-odd new songs they've cooked up. They are supposedly more lighthearted and upbeat in nature than those that will be appearing on their sophomore release in early 2009.

Right off the bat with 'The End' I can hear that it is, indeed, more upbeat than their debut album. The lyrics are still spot on as always with the main subject being about situations Gabriel has walked through the past 3 years. 'When' covers the topic of prayer seeming to hit a ceiling when you are going through hard times and it's actually incredibly uplifting. The song has a techno-style beat to it as it builds to the addictive chorus. The following song, 'Prayer in the Dark', almost has a Newsboys quality to it as a feeling of wanting to dance to the beat comes over you, though Gabe's voice is much lower and brooding.

That's really the difference in these songs when compared to their debut. These have more of a dance quality that doesn't quite match up to Gabe's style of singing whereas the debut had that dark and droning music that complimented the lyrics and vocals.

The final song is much more in line with their debut and that's probably why it's my favorite. I sincerely hope it's on the upcoming album because it's just beautiful. After an old fashioned radio transmission fades out to start the song a beautiful guitar line kicks in and then an electronic beat over drums ensues. The tone is certainly melancholic along with the lyrics and that's where you realize how powerful this song is. Gabriel sings "I'm going to fight with you/I'm going to bleed with you/I'm going to cry with you/Until this wall comes close". I suppose it could either be heard as a love song or one of comfort from God's perspective. This is all combined with the brilliant music to become an epic song.

All in all, I love the new sound and though 4 songs isn't enough to hold be over for very long I'm glad to have them. From the sound of it I count my blessings that The Listening are still making music because they very nearly broke up with only Gabriel being the lone founding member from 2005. The fact that he kept their sound intact and progressed it with a new lineup after all these years is astounding.

Overall - 9.0/10 - newreleasetuesday.com

4 of 5 stars

It's been some time since music fans have heard from The Listening. In 2005, The Rock N Roll Worship Circus made the official transition to The Listening with a debut LP under the new moniker and a darker, more pensive approach to songwriting. For almost two years, things have been rather quiet for the band, but with a renewed focus, drive, and passion for music, The Listening is back with their latest offering, an EP titled Transmission 1.
Although the only original member still remaining in The Listening is vocalist and guitarist Gabriel Wilson, Transmission 1 doesn't stray all that far from the vibe and feel the band established three years ago. The opening track, "Sweating blood and a game of spin the bottle in a Jerusalem garden [THE END]" paints a picture of Judas' betrayal of Jesus through electro-flavored atmospheric rock. Stylistically, "The End" is relatively familiar territory, but that changes rather quickly as the four-song EP progresses. "14 nights and 23 days [WHEN}" is built upon a considerably more pop base with a danceable beat through energetic drumming and a pop synth. Lyrically, the EP is a lot more personal writing for Wilson. "When" is written as encouragement from our Savior that He doesn't abandon us when times are at their darkest and it might feel like He has, "When you can't hold on much longer / When you're weak I'll make you stronger / When you're lost you know I'm never far from where you are / When you're all alone and wishing / When your prayers have hit the ceiling / When you're lost you know I'm never far from where you are." Wilson illustrates a beautiful and comforting picture.
If the music of "When" throws some fans for a loop, "Open the letter to an unseen friend [PRAYER IN THE DARK]" will come as quite a shock. Opening with a dance pop synth with an electronic beat to match, "Prayer In The Dark" is a quirky and autobiographical look at Wilson's tragedies where Christ met him where he was at. It's a great pop track with a strong message, but nothing Listening fans are likely to expect from the indie rock act. From there, Transmission 1 is wonderfully wrapped up with "17th ave - tones on tail [FIGHT WITH YOU]," a pop ballad that pulls at the heartstrings as Wilson writes from God's perspective to someone feeling hurt and abandoned. The chorus is another beautiful reminder, "I'm gonna fight with you / I'm gonna bleed with you / I'm gonna cry with you / until this wall crumbles / I'm gonna pray with you / I'm gonna kneel with you / I'm gonna heal with you." Gabe's soft vocal delivery helps bring a peaceful feel to the song which builds as it progresses for a near epic finish.
As the ambient sounds of "Fight With You" fade out, we're left with a brief glimpse at what is to come from The Listening in the near future. The band has stated that the songs on Transmission 1 are the more accessible of the band's newest material, so it should be interesting to see what else these guys have up their sleeves. This more vulnerable, personal songwriting style works really well, especially to pull the listener in to The Listening experience. So until the release of their sophomore full-length project, LMNOP, the brief EP, Transmission 1, is a great way to be introduced to a new chapter in The Listening saga, as well as be reintroduced to a great band.
- Review date: 12/14/08, written by John DiBiase of Jesusfreakhideout.com - jesusfreakhideout.com

5 of 5 stars

From the opening moments of The Listening LP, it's clearly the band's name change is not merely cosmetic. Lush keyboards and almost-lazy synth bassline bring the record in as hushed, throaty vocals deliver line after line in a hypnotic cadence. "Glory of the Feared" is one of twelve outstanding tracks that drip, sweat and bleed passion, agony, heartache and hope. Lyrically, Gabriel Wilson is in top form, a romantic wordsmith using potent imagery to convey the depths of despair and the quiet resurrection of hope. With nearly every song topping five minutes, the music has an unrushed, natural quality to it. Chiming vintage toned guitars and stripped down drums combine with synthesizer low end and lots of wonderful keyboard tones . Nothing is forced, transitions are gentle yet dynamic. The listener, in many ways, is akin to a fortunate fly on the wall as four talented men create brilliance on the spot.

Fans of the Rock & Roll Worship Circus may very well be disconcerted by the stylistic change, as it applies not only to the music but the lyrics. "Love, the greatest innovation/Emotion intertwined with liberty," Gabriel breathes in "Triple Fascination." One of the standout tracks, "Hosea In C Minor," the voice caresses the words "None of the people who told you can hear it/voices on the telly always led to deceiving/you didn't know you were sleeping with demons." The lyrics are darkly wry, passionate, heated, and certainly uncomfortable. "Press my lips upon your skin/breath the air you're breathing in/taste the taste the heaven in/ where you end and I begin/ want to be in your eyes again/ want to be in your eyes again", or so goes "Be In Your Eyes". The words matter. The band's name points towards the secret: It is in the listening that impact comes.

With hints of Sigur Ros, Death Cab For Cutie, Radiohead as well as classic rock like Pink Floyd and The Beatles, The Listening has nonetheless forged the band's own unique sonic identity. In the process, they have revealed one of the truly great albums of the past few years - melancholy, lush, captivating and passionate. There is a sense, with The Listening, of trespassing on sacred ground and being caught by the maker, and like the music, the only response is hushed awe.

The Listening is available in stores come January, but there's no reason to wait that long: It's on sale now at the band's website. www.worshipcircus.com/www.thelistening.com. And of course you can listen to four tracks from the record at myspace.com/thelistening

Ryan Ro - Phantomtollbooth.org

4.5 of 5 stars

The title of this disc, Rock 'n' Roll Worship Circus Becomes … The Listening, about sums it up. But in case it's unclear, The Rock 'n' Roll Worship Circus began turning heads in the late '90s with their distinctive hybrid of modern worship and '60s psychedelic rock inspired by The Beatles and Pink Floyd. Like Delirious before them, this is a band that earned a reputation for transcendent worship-concert experiences, quickly developing a following beyond their home state of Washington. They had only just started to receive national attention as of 2002, but as it turns out, 2003's critically acclaimed A Beautiful Glow marked the last proper album from the Worship Circus.

Which is not to say the band has quit entirely. Their independently released The Listening EP in 2004 showcased a radically changed sound from a new lineup of band members from various stages of Worship Circus history. Turns out the new musical direction connected even more strongly with audiences, but because the style is so different, the band felt uncomfortable continuing with the Worship Circus moniker. So unfortunately, we lose one of the coolest (though more garish) band names in the history of Christian music, not to mention their unique '60s meets '90s approach. But we also gain The Listening, a stronger band that still favors classic rock, old analog gear, and "low end" effects in place of bass guitar.

Why the new name? According to frontman and guitarist Gabriel Wilson, the songs shifted from the traditional man-to-God worship focus to more of a God-to-man approach. This "reverse worship" style is more prophetic, inviting people to take time to listen to the Lord. Other artists have tried it before, often only to yield rehashed Scripture, and there's always the theological danger of putting words in God's mouth. But The Listening successfully avoids both, offering poetic expressions that ring true with what we know about the Lord from the Bible. Though the lyrics are clearly inspired by Christian faith, they're also abstract enough to register with the hearts of nonbelievers. One concertgoer reportedly told the band, "When you played, it felt like I had a huge hole in my chest that had finally been filled by something." Mission accomplished.

Combine that approach with dark and dreamy alternative rock ambience most reminiscent of Pink Floyd, Doves, and The Violet Burning. Whereas the Worship Circus was more '60s in flavor, The Listening is more '80s and '90s, as if Cool Hand Luke or OK Computer era Radiohead tried to pay tribute to The Choir or Love and Rockets. It results in a band even more comfortable with rocking out while also creating an introspective mood, with songs flowing into each other to create a sonic experience.

Things start strong with two of the few tracks directed to the Lord—"Glory of the Feared," offering worshipful admiration of God's beauty and grace, and "Triple Fascination," a nondescript ode to love and the Holy Trinity. It's clear from the title where "Hosea in C Minor" draws its inspiration, and "Be in Your Eyes" gives a similar portrait of brokenness and loving reconciliation that additionally recalls Song of Solomon. Carried over from The Listening EP, "(Untitled)," is epic in sound, Psalm-like in lyric, directed to a wayward soul burdened by the world's trials and temptations. The dramatic "When the Idol Dies" is particularly expressive, like a lamentation from Christ himself—"Sip the cup of wine to toast/Hold the break before it's broke/Some cast lots to get the cloak/And some deny the things they know/But they'll remember what was said when it's lifted from the dead."

The album falters slightly toward the end only because the songs become more confusing and out of place. Hard to guess what people will make of the darker and more enigmatic "The Factory" with its metaphorical arson of desperation, and "Lovely Red Lights" only briefly alludes to the light of Jesus shining in the darkest of places. "Everything Is Nothing" makes a somewhat odd closer, depicting the sanctity of marriage by way of 1 Corinthians 13. Most copies of the album also include a bonus disc with three more worthwhile tracks, but why they weren't all packaged on one CD is unclear.

Even if The Rock 'n' Roll Worship Circus is truly finished, wouldn't it be cool if The Listening revisited their classic rock roots and incorporated it into their new alt-rock style for future albums? But make no mistake, this is a successful facelift for the band that builds on their past work, takes chances with their artistry, and yields an intricate sonic tapestry that instills the desire to listen in more ways than one. - christianitytoday.com