Forever (for now) connected to the silence that accompanies the earth at night after a snowfall. Naught but the wind for miles and miles. Naught but guitar feedback to accompany a near-whispering voice. What first appears as empty is incredibly engaging when given focus, while retaining the space needed for introspection.

The alternating song styles of Blemish swing between these longer electronic pieces and shorter interludes which might appear as trying to mimic someone's first attempts at playing a guitar. This could be taken as trying to intentionally play badly, yet with the emotive vocals it is as if someone is trying to express overflowing emotion that they can't articulate. And so, they strike at their guitar with frustration and pluck at the harmonics as trying to point at something you can't see. Of course, these aren't random strummings of a novice - they are the skillful hands of guitarist Derek Bailey (those with an ear for free improvisation will definitely enjoy), and it works - these 'interludes' are entirely necessary to the full picture being painted here.

There are some truly divine moments throughout (while also being absolutely heartbreaking). "The Only Daughter" is the reverse face of a "She's Leaving Home" coin. Instead of a sneaking away for freedom & love, it is a forced excising with no medication. Although this is the song most inspired by glitch (besides of course the Fennesz contributed "Fire In The Forest"), there is a spectral aspect that floats through the instrumental that is as organic as an animist spirit. This causes a mood balancing with the glitch electronics that conjures a feeling of floating through like a ghost. The way this cradles the vocals is really special. The singing is so intimiate it's as if you can feel Sylvian's facial hair rubbing up against the microphone. The kind of voice saved for telling your love good morning. The resonance of the voice shifts between calm and quivering vocal chords as he fights against getting his voice cut out.

"The Heart Knows Better" features direct lyrics of yearning for love - while also creating and maintaining very evocative, dream-like (or memory-like) imagery. The pulsating reverb of the dual-channeled guitars combined with the sinister, single bass note (which feels like the slow steps of a wolf stalking you under the moonlit trees) creates a simple yet hypnotic rhythm. The instrumental pauses just before a new stanza of lyrics is an incredible creative choice that creates a 'deep-breath before going back under' effect. The enlightening chime tone used throughout (the closest thing to a melody, if only two notes) gives the song this flowing punctuation that summons up a mystical 'otherness' quality to major moments. It feels as if the great idea-resolution has been reached only for the wave to recede back into the sea.

This is a cold & lonely album that so badly does not want to get sent out into the blizzard. It cannot speak of anything but family. It clings so tightly wanting to be brought inside to the warmth. In the end, the warmth will have to be found in those woods.