What Silence Knows


What Silence Knows is the debut solo album by English singer Shara Nelson, released in September 1993 on Cooltempo Records. It includes five singles which reached the UK Singles Chart: "Down That Road", "One Goodbye in Ten", "Inside Out", "Uptight" and "Nobody". The album peaked at No. 22 on the UK Albums Chart and was later certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry for sales in excess of 100,000 copies.
The album was shortlisted for the 1994 Mercury Music Prize.

Critical reception

Alan Jones from Music Week wrote, "A glittering solo debut for this talented vocalist. The current single, "One Goodbye in Ten", is particularly fine: a rich string arrangement underpinning a Sixties feel. Other tracks, such as "Nobody", recall her past with Massive Attack, while the vox/piano style of "Inside Out" has a haunting, stark beauty. Could be a Dina Carroll-style breakout." Adam Higginbotham from Select said, "It's a tremendous soul album, with Nelson's searing voice matched to a full spectrum of musical textures and resonant lyrics that will frighten the pants off Derek and Shirley canoodling on the sofa in Swindon."

Track listing

  1. "Nobody" – 4:22
  2. "Pain Revisited" – 5:16
  3. "One Goodbye in Ten" – 5:50
  4. "Inside Out" – 3:19
  5. "Uptight" – 5:04
  6. "Down That Road" – 5:15
  7. "Chance" – 3:58
  8. "Thoughts of You" – 4:16
  9. "How Close" – 3:59
  10. "What Silence Knows" – 6:59

Personnel