Society Of The Silver Cross Wonder What Happens Next: ‘When You’re Gone’

‘When You’re Gone’, from Society Of The Silver Cross, is a dark and mysterious song from an equally mysterious band. Featuring an equally intriguing video, it tantalises and entwines the listener, with its stirring strings and beguiling vocals.

Society Of The Silver Cross, comprises husband wife team, Joe Reineke and Karyn Gold-Reineke. Joe, frontman and songwriter, was a member of energetic 90s Bay Area punk band, The Meices, and later, Alien Crime Syndicate, whose 2004 album, ‘Ten Songs In The Key Of Betrayal’, was critically acclaimed. Society Of The Silver Cross was formed after the break up of Alien Crime Syndicate, and takes much of its inspiration from the music of India, and unusual instruments. On ‘When You’re Gone’ we can hear a harmonium, a small pump organ which has traditionally been used for chanting, as well as a shahi baaja, otherwise known as an Indian autoharp. These fit perfectly well with Reineke’s voice, which, to our ears, sounds something like Neil Young in its pondering, searching, and yearning intensity.

The video for ‘When You’re Gone’ has been recorded on film, and co-directed by the band and Jenni Hensler, known for her work on music videos for Chelsea Wolfe, and Zola Jesus. The clip is hypnotic, the effect of which is added to by the fact it’s been shot partially in black and white, making use of positive and negative space.

Showing a woman through whose hands sands are sifted, the listener/viewer is compelled to consider the fragility of life: it’s like sand flowing through time – as the lyrics drawl, “we’re only here for a while/we’re only here for a day”.

You can find out more about Society Of The Silver Cross online from their official website.