Two events led me to these. First, something clicked when I got a chance to play a set Kerope and K Con cymbals early this year. I felt they finally delivered the oldskool dark and trashy sounds which regular K's promised but never took to the max. And then I heard Antonio Sanchez’ cymbals on the Pat Metheny Unity Group album. They were so radically different from anything I had heard and played before. It took me a while to warm up to the sound, but once I did, I was hooked. Unfortunately, the price for admission to these wonderful sounds are frightening, or so I thought. All that changed however while windowshopping in Lyric Main Horseshoe. I was about to leave when the salesman directed me to the Silken display. My first impression was that this was just another small, funky cymbal brand. I was unimpressed with the Sebring, Avus, and Borealis series. But one hit on the 20" Trois blew my mind. It wasn't only dark and trashy, but CRAZY-BOINGY-GONGY dark and trashy. I guess it's what you get when a Chinese cymbalsmith interpolates vintage Turkish cymbals. About the only thing right about my first impression was the price, less than half of big name brands, and another half off due to a Lyric's Super Sale. I didn't have enough cash on me, so I had it reserved until the weekend. I went back bright and early on a Saturday morning, and left the store not only with the 20", but with an 18" too. Now all I need is a gig.