Information/Write-up
Broken Silence was a short-lived Toronto-based synth-pop and new-wave trio active in the early 1980s, comprised of Andrew St. George (drums and percussion), Richard Uglow (keyboards), and Ian De Souza (bass guitar), with additional percussion by Gary Keller. Their sole commercial release was the 1984 seven-inch single Nightstalking b/w Through the Glass, issued on the independent Apperception Records (APR 001). The songs are credited to Edward Kay (words) and Jim Lysowycz (music), and were recorded and mixed at Le Mix Studios, arranged by the band with Andrew St. George.
Nightstalking is a brooding number that evokes the spirit of a dark Toronto Halloween — pulsing with minimalist percussion, ominous synth textures, and Kay’s detached vocal presence. Its shadowy tone stands in contrast to the B-side, Through the Glass, a slightly more accessible yet equally hypnotic new-wave composition. Together, the tracks capture the mood of mid-1980s urban isolation, echoing through the city’s underground clubs and independent airwaves.
Though no further releases have surfaced, Broken Silence remains a striking example of the DIY energy that characterized Toronto’s early electronic scene — a fleeting project that left behind a single, haunting record now prized by collectors of Canadian dark wave and minimal synth.
-Robert Williston
Andrew St. George: drums and percussion
Richard Uglow: keyboards
Ian De Souza: bass guitar
Additional percussion: Gary Keller
Recorded and mixed at Le Mix Studios
Arranged by Broken Silence and Andrew St. George
Sleeve photography by Peter L. Noble
Design by Bruce Wright for Transatlantic Illustrated
Thanks to Maureen Lysowycz and Lee Bryant
For information:
Broken Silence
c/o Apperception Records
Box 163, 238 Davenport Road
Toronto, Ontario M5R 1J6
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