By Jocelle Koh

Album Information

Album Name: Speak In Silence 沈默的鉅作

Release Date: 30th June 2026

Album Review

Taiwanese indie rock band Shallow Levée 淺堤’s third album Speak In Silence 沈默的劇作 appears to be the Kaohsiung-natives’ most creatively ambitious work yet. The album’s concept comes from the notion that every person’s inner world has a place that cannot be accessed by language; and indeed despite feeling particularly moved in many different ways across the record, even I am finding myself lost for words at how to express how it’s making me feel. And believe me, this doesn’t happen often!

What I can say is that between their last album Endless Playlist 婚禮之途 in 2021, there has been a clear sense of growth for every member of the band and for the band as a collective; technically, creatively, and musically. All members cited a diversion in life stages as one of the reasons for the five-year gap in releasing new music; however much happened creatively in that gap including hundreds of shows being played at festivals and stages all around the world from Taiwan to Canada, from Singapore to Korea, Japan to Malaysia; the band’s involvement in a theatrical production, frontwoman Soham writing and publishing her own book amongst various other life developments.

As veteran musicians within the indie music scene (collectively the band has credits on other indie projects such as Gigantic Roar, Grey Youth, Kid King), the DIY approach has not been unfamiliar to Shallow Levée since their formation. And yet their latest album is not only their most creatively ambitious, but also most carefully considered project to date.

The album encourages you not to talk, but to listen, to feel. And so feel, I did.

On tracks such as “Speak In Silence (Woah) 沈默的鉅作” (the album’s title track), I felt a pulsing energy radiating from within; the exact feeling of euphoria one would get from watching the most mesmerising live show and headbanging your heart out. Featuring the steadiest of drums as the beating heart of the track and a wave of anthemic ‘Woahs’ ebbing and flowing with ones’ breath, the most electrifying guitar riffs come in a heady rush to send us off on a high. An artfully created feeling of release in three minutes and 15 seconds that could only be so masterfully created by musicians who had replicated that feeling thousands of times over.

On “A Poem In Between 在空檔寫詩” resident poet and lead vocalist Soham writes and sings beautifully about the absences that create connection. Along with the release of this album was the introduction of Shallow’s lead singer as Soham instead of Yiling. A Sanskrit word that means ‘I am that’, or in other words ‘I am you and you are me’, this piece feels like a perfect introduction to what she hopes to convey in this new chapter of self (or non-self). Set against a soaring backdrop of strings and an anthemic arrangement that makes its presence known and deeply felt, the dynamics on this track feel like an ocean. At moments thrashing and full of energy, and at others lapping silently against the sand; this was one of the most transportive tracks on the album for me.

One standout difference from Shallow Levée’s previous LPs was the inclusion of two fully English-language tracks “3+4=5” and “Sabrina”. Often citing inspiration from sunny indie rock bands such as Wilco, The Strokes and Alabama Shakes as well as improvisational elements from Thelonius Monk as as core inspirations, “3+4=5” sheds new light on these influences. Produced by Chelin Liu (Little Shy on Allen Street, Joanna Wang), the song includes a most fascinating rule-breaking improvisational solo performed on distorted synths against indistinct fuzz that showcases a new depth of experimentation and playfulness for the band.

While the first half of the album is more recognisably quintessential Shallow Levée, there is a sudden (yet exhilarating) shift in weather patterns in its second half, marked by the ‘80s style Taiwanese dialect track aptly named “Weather Report 愛情氣象台”. While many contemporary bands seek to emulate or fuse historical elements with their own sound, Shallow Levée has instead bravely opted to turn themselves into a historical artefact of Taiwanese pop with the help of Korean saxophonist Kim Oki. Inspired by bassist Patrick‘s experience growing up with his family running a KTV, this luxurious cha-cha inspired track with tropical guitars and percussion, dreamy sax and lush ‘80s style vocals and lyrics as a true team effort.

The seventh track on the album “I’ll Wait 我咧等” is perhaps one of the most low-key, but absolutely my favourite. Starting off with irresistibly dreamy-yet-forward momentum guitars and drums, they pull you in this masterful play with dynamics where less is absolutely more. Allowing SOHAM’s vocals to lead the narrative, it details a different euphoria (in the Taiwanese dialect, no less) than what we heard in the album’s title track – the heady romance of spring after the longest winter. Not in the way that it was said, but how it was felt. A ‘rightness’ that one feels in their bones when something (or someone) is right for you. Especially because the Hokkien and Taiwanese languages have historically been linked to rural or working-class communities not only in Taiwan but also across Singapore, Malaysia and China, each lyric uttered somehow makes the message behind the song even more hard-won and deeply felt. Fusing dreamo/shoegaze with a story of personal growth and connection through a Taiwanese lens, this is east-meets-west at its best.

Following on with this theme of modern-day worries especially amongst Taiwanese youth, Shallow Levee draw from the experiences of the past six years on Track eight “Promise of Yesterday 昨日ã®約束”. Originally released with Japanese singer-songwriter STRANGE REITARO, we actually prefer the solo version on the album which has a more intimate vibe to it. With striking lyrics that resonate deeply with anyone experiencing growing pains, here Shallow Levée remind you that they’re here with you every step of the way.

“自己的人生自己捧場 Ones’ own life must be supported by oneself

她並不期望能有人犒賞 She doesn’t expect that others will reward her
散落一地的水 裝老半天事與願違 Water all over the floor Faking it till we make it but things didn’t go as planned
午夜 夢迴 依然 Thoughts inevitably come back in the middle of the night”

-Yesterday’s Promise

The album’s closing track “Out of Reach 觸碰” returns listeners to the thesis of the album in a straightforward and reflective manner; reminding listeners that each person’s inner world has a place that cannot be touched by language; and that there are conflicts, blurred lines, grey areas that cause fear, worry, impatience, hardships for all of us. But at the end of it all, the band provide no answers; but in their acknowledgement of these struggles encourage us all to stay patient in this turmoil-filled rollercoaster of life.

Shallow Levée has always been a band of depth; posing thoughtful questions and providing insightful perspectives that have become irreplicable in the Taiwanese indie music scene. And yet, with this album they have continued to excavate further depths to themselves as individuals and as a collective that only they knew existed; surprising fans, audiences and critics alike pleasantly; thoughtfully; artfully. ‘Speak In Silence’ is a groundbreaking, unprecedented effort that feels and sounds like the greater sum of ‘the work’.

Said ‘work’ being not only musically or technically what could be accumulated over five years of time having passed from their last record, but also of four individuals who have done the work on themselves; pushing the boundaries of themselves, what their work means to them, and the contributions that they can make to society at large. While not your typical ‘east-meets-west’ album, Shallow Levée’s ambitious aim to convey what words cannot through sound and feeling have rendered this album a deeply moving and thought-invoking listen that reminds us to have compassion for ourselves and one another, and to take time to appreciate the hard-won milestones in each of our lives.

Rating: 4.8/5

Album Track List

Track 01. Speechless 若是講袂出一句話

Track 02. Speak in Silence (Woah) 沈默的鉅作(Woah)

Track 03. A Poem in Between 在空檔寫詩

Track 04. 3+4=5

Track 05. Sabrina

Track 06. Weather Report (feat. Kim Oki) 愛情氣象台

Track 07. I’ll Wait 我咧等

Track 08. Promise of Yesterday 昨日約束

Track 09. Dare to Love 偷偷去愛

Track 10. Out of Reach 觸碰