SoftSun: Daylight in the Dark

The promotional materials for SoftSun’s debut album, Daylight in the Dark, described the music as “awe-inspiring dronegaze and post-rock.� That made me wary, though I do like some bands that call their offerings post-rock. Then came: a “record for fans of Cocteau Twins, Slow Crush, True Widow, Yawning Man, and Diiv.� Ooh. I knew of only one of those bands, Cocteau Twins, and I knew I didn’t like them. So, I went in with a bad feeling but came out a little surprised.

This is a heavy record. The musicians are Gary Arce on guitars, Dan Joeright on drums, and Pia Isaksen on bass and vocals. Arce and Joeright are Americans, while Isaksen hails from Norway. There’s not much use going through the individual tracks because they largely sound the same: fuzzy distorted guitars, fat basslines, and slow, atmospheric drumming with some ethereal and almost indecipherable vocals. There’s also significant repetition within each of the tracks. It’s stoner rock.

I didn’t need more than 40 minutes of it. In fact, one 25-minute-long track released as an EP would have suited me just fine. Actually, more than that: I’m sure I would have liked it a lot. Dip your toes in. Or if you are in the right frame of mind, stay for the duration.

Track Listing
1. Unholy Waters (6:50)
2. Daylight in the Dark (7:13)
3. Exit Wounds (5:52)
4. Continents (4:50)
5. Dragged Across the Desert Floor (5:03)
6. Soft Sun (11:22)

Added: December 9th 2024
Reviewer: Aaron Steelman
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 277
Language: english

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