Indie Music Album Reviews

Youth in Government - Silhouettes

7/31/2026

Youth in Government

Silhouettes
self-released; 2026

TOP ALBUM

By Dino DiMuro

Appropriately based in Washington D.C. we have Youth In Government, a space rock duo with a new collection called Silhouettes. This is the kind of album you both enjoy hearing, but also go a little nuts trying to figure out who they sound like. Before seeing their list of influences, I did guess Radiohead along with Bowie and Eno's "German era." The band also mentions the 4AD catalog, Slowdive, the Cure and a little combo called The Beatles. Within the indie community they also have tracks that reminded me of synth artist Kiffie.

Youth In Government consists of Chris Mathews-Larsen (guitar/vocals) and Trae Tomko (drums/vocals/sampler) with assorted guests. They specifically describe their music as "expansive space rock that blends the psychedelic textures of the 1970's with the atmospheric haze of shoegaze and the emotional sweep of post-rock. Equal parts cosmic and cathartic, channeling shimmering guitars, immersive soundscapes and driving rhythms into songs that feel both nostalgic and forward-looking." Seven years in the making, this album began recording in earnest in the summer of 2023 mostly at Ramblewood Studios. Mixing was by Ben Green at Ivakota Studios, with mastering by Taylor Deupree at 12k Mastering.

"Ad Astra" (Latin for "to the stars") is a song title that seems to pop up a lot. YIG's version is based on a deep drone with echo'd guitar notes and expansive reverb, like Lou Reed and the early Velvets.

Two minutes in, the vocals appear with a matter-of-fact quality like another Lou named Barlow. Guesting on this track are Erin Erin Snedecor (cello) and Annemarie Guske (backing vox). "Lost" is an epic psychedelic track that evokes both ex-Husker Bob Mould and lots of 60's garage bands with its Jefferson Airplane vocals and retro fuzz lead. "Riversong" has descending, shimmering Leslie guitars like the Beatles, which then moves into a solid dreamrock framework. Sam Cooper reappears on lead and tremolo guitar.

"Satellites" has a long, magical fade-in a la early Genesis that fully explodes in wonder once you've cranked up the volume. I'm reaching way back to Syd Barrett Pink Floyd, but the mixture the guys have created also feels quite original, as the drums create an intricate, pulsing lattice into which the guitars comfortably lay, topped by some of the most impassioned vocals thus far (aided by Rachel Kline). "Splintered" is an ear-splitting psych rocker in which Mathews-Larsen does almost everything except drums (that's Tomko) and backing vocals (Rachel Kline). This is the kind of song where the guitars are so loud that the vocals are like messages received at the mouth of a tunnel. But... sounds great!

"Returning" starts out practically acoustic, with Mellotron-like synth and shimmering guitars, but soon kicks into laid-back rock with clomping beats and bracing chorus assertions. This track goes so many directions at once that all I can do is marvel. Like, was it country for a second? Dreampop? Clearly the guest spots by Sam Cooper (slide guitar) and Erin Snedecor (cello) along with all those keys by Mathews-Larsen helps. "If You Need Someone" is a cover of a song by The Field Mice (active in the late 80's) and is the most straight-ahead rocker, though the heavy reverb returns as always.

"Disseminate" is the sound of the band without vocals, sticking to a pretty simple, driving structure and using different instruments as the mood dictates. Jamie Darken guests on bass. "Heart" is the big 6.5-minute conclusion and the chords and beats are just as heavy and relentless as ever (not fast, just pounding!). The vocals are nearly lost in the heaviness, but at this point I've accepted that as part of their sound. The shimmering conclusion has a bit of Brian Wilson solo magic.

This is the kind of album where every track currently playing becomes my favorite. See if you agree!