Soft MetalsCaptured Tracks Records [2011]
Fire Note Says: Soft Metals debut is synth-pop for your brain.
Album Review:
The Portland duo Soft Metals, which are made up of Patricia Hall and Ian Hicks, have joined the ever populated genre of synth-pop with their self-titled debut album. The record shows its influences on its sleeve, as it incorporates 80's Chicago House, techno, early industrial rhythms and simple
repetitive synthesizers while letting Hall's siren vocals float above, in and around the complex structures. This style leaves Soft Metals in limbo because it is not poppy enough to be fun and yet it bounces, so totally being able to sit back and zone out does not necessarily work either. It is an album that takes several spins to get into its intricacies because the duo does not use hooks or memorable choruses to sell you on their music or keep it in your head. This leaves their mathematical song structures and Hall's voice to drive it home and although they succeed on several tracks the rest of the album starts to sound a bit similar. Basically this is not a bad debut for Soft Metals but it also is not going to blow you away. Soft Metals do have a niche here and with some refinement and experience they could easily come back with something mind bending!Key Tracks: "Psychic Driving", "Do You Remember", "Voices"
Bands With Similar Fire:
Washed Out
Neon Indian
Atlas Sound
Soft Metals Website
Soft Metals Facebook
Captured Tracks Records
-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony
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