Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 11:48 AM by Nikos Nakos
Genre: Post-Punk/Dark Wave
Country: USA
Label: Profound Lore Records
Year: 2016
Portland, Oregon of the USA has been a milestone through many decades for many subcultures and experimental music waves, especially punk and its sub-genres (see the punk legends Wipers). The last few years there’s been a post-punk revival there with bands like The Enstranged, Arctic Flowers, Red Dons, etc. One can easily add Soft Kill to the aforementioned group of bands, even though they’ve chosen a more atmospheric path with dark wave aesthetics. ‘Choke’ is the Americans’ fourth work and first in Profound Lore, a label mainly known for its deeply experimental roster. The Cure’s bipolar melancholy is the first thing that comes to my mind, Depeche Mode’s catchy refrains are printed on my brain and the vocals’ gothic side has to pay some dues to The Sisters of Mercy for sure. All these influences are filtered through the prism of a new wave of dark wave bands like The KVB, Velvet Condom and Death of Lovers. This record is best listened at a rainy night of solitude or accompanying a drunk dance at some sweaty basement, but its musical gravity doesn’t surface its predecessors’, neither adds anything new to the equation.
3,5/6
