Luis Vasquez the creative force behind The Soft Moon released his debut self-titled LP towards the end of last year in the States but I think it can count as an early 2011 release over here, out via Captured Tracks.
It's an obvious and lazy thing to say but the overwhelming feeling you get when listening to The Soft Moon is an intoxicating Joy Division / Bauhaus vibe, yet Vasquez has managed to successfully create his own distinct sound whilst being clearly stamped with those trademarks of late 80's post-punk. If that's not too much of a contradiction.
The mood is desolate, washed completely in gloom. This is music to listen to with the lights dimmed low, preferably alone. "Breathe The Fire" sets the mood perfectly with repetitive, rhythmatic percussion and a mesmeric pulse. "Out of Time" snarls along visualising industrial landscapes with it's aggressive and tense mood, guitars are icy yet hypnotic with a pulsating riffs and synths recall those from a low budget sci-fi film.
Vocals are hidden deep in the mix and distorted whilst some tracks are nearly instrumental besides the odd yelp or eerie chant. Vasquez has concentrated on creating an isolated, post-apocalyptic atmosphere highlighted wonderfully on single "Parallels" and "Circles".
Highly recommended, The Soft Moon have been listed today amongst in the initial acts for The Great Escape festival in May, one to check out if you are spending your weekend by the seaside.
8.0 / 10
Listen to a few tracks from the album below:
breathe the fire by thesoftmoon
dead love by thesoftmoon
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