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is a two-song 7" from Portland post-punk legends Soft Kill. The 7", "Press Play b/w Concrete Fluid" displays the band's storied dream pop executed with expert discretion. The precursor to the band's forthcoming LP, this 7" emphatically adds to the band's morose reign.
Our take: When this single from Portland’s the Soft Kill came in the shop courtesy of Denver’s Convulse Records, I thought to myself, “I’ve heard that band’s name… I’ll give it a listen.” While Convulse is a hardcore label, Soft Kill’s sound is total early 80s style darkwave / post-punk with the anthemic sheen of 90s alternative rock. The driving rhythm section and the spooky, chiming guitars are straight out of the playbook of the Cure and Echo and the Bunnymen, but everything is more locked in and polished than the typical underground bands we write about at Sorry State. That’s true of the vocals, which are rich and dynamic, separating Soft Kill from the legions of similar bands out there with unremarkable vocalists. It’s easy to imagine the Soft Kill on a big indie label or playing on giant festival stages. However, they’re connected to the underground that is so important to those of us who write and read this newsletter. I think I first heard Soft Kill’s name when TKO released a cover they did of Blitz’s New Age b/w Fatigue single with Jerry A from Poison Idea on guest vocals (check it out… they make “New Age” sound like Modern English), and they’ve also released records on the underground metal labels Profound Lore and Closed Casket Activities and a slew of other records on small labels and on their own. Discovering all that, I feel a bit like I walked into a party, expecting to find a small and intimate gathering, but it’s a packed-out rager. It’s clear Soft Kill is an entire universe, so if you’re familiar with that universe, here’s another chapter. If, like me, this is your introduction, then welcome to the party.
Our take: When this single from Portland’s the Soft Kill came in the shop courtesy of Denver’s Convulse Records, I thought to myself, “I’ve heard that band’s name… I’ll give it a listen.” While Convulse is a hardcore label, Soft Kill’s sound is total early 80s style darkwave / post-punk with the anthemic sheen of 90s alternative rock. The driving rhythm section and the spooky, chiming guitars are straight out of the playbook of the Cure and Echo and the Bunnymen, but everything is more locked in and polished than the typical underground bands we write about at Sorry State. That’s true of the vocals, which are rich and dynamic, separating Soft Kill from the legions of similar bands out there with unremarkable vocalists. It’s easy to imagine the Soft Kill on a big indie label or playing on giant festival stages. However, they’re connected to the underground that is so important to those of us who write and read this newsletter. I think I first heard Soft Kill’s name when TKO released a cover they did of Blitz’s New Age b/w Fatigue single with Jerry A from Poison Idea on guest vocals (check it out… they make “New Age” sound like Modern English), and they’ve also released records on the underground metal labels Profound Lore and Closed Casket Activities and a slew of other records on small labels and on their own. Discovering all that, I feel a bit like I walked into a party, expecting to find a small and intimate gathering, but it’s a packed-out rager. It’s clear Soft Kill is an entire universe, so if you’re familiar with that universe, here’s another chapter. If, like me, this is your introduction, then welcome to the party.