It takes just one listen to ‘Choke’ to realise that Soft Kill come from a dark place. The Portland band conjure a very bleak and suffocating spirit with their music, and on this, their fourth LP, have ventured further into the human condition. Born of the personal demons harboured by vocalist, Tobias Sinclair, and carried by a refined, cohesive blend of classic post punk and darkwave, ‘Choke’ is a vehement release that’s riddled with emotion.
Despite hailing from the Pacific Northwest, ‘Choke’ could have been lifted from the grey skies of early 80s England. There are some obvious reference points when absorbing the music of Soft Kill. The Sound have clearly played a huge part, along with elements of This Mortal Coil, and a nod towards the dreamy textures of Cocteau Twins. An appearance from Chameleons vocalist, Mark Burgess, on the brooding ‘On The Inside’ feels very natural, and befitting of the tone of ‘Choke’.
The accomplished playing, and the reinvention of a classic sound, brings forth something very unique. The reverb on Sinclair’s vocals through the lush, lucid, ‘Whirl’, and the glorious ‘Frankie’ brings yet another intoxicating layer to the mix. Each track is washed with bright keys to add an incandescent hum over the record. It breaks into moments of inspired synthwave akin to that of New Order or Depeche Mode, without compromising the oppressive nature of the album.
In keeping with the album’s title, ‘Choke’, at times, is quite claustrophobic. The dense layers of hypnotic guitars and repetitive drumbeats of ‘Lost’ and ‘I’m Beside You’ draw from the influence of krautrock that permeates the album. The repetition draws you in and attacks the senses. Through sorrow and agony, it finally becomes euphoric at its final breath.
‘Choke’ is ultimately an emotional rollercoaster that reaches the highest highs and, as such, the lowest lows. You can feel the cathartic release that it must have been for its creators, and it gives a certain comfort to the listener. Soft Kill have found decadence in the darkness, with the end result being a heart-wrenching masterpiece.
GLEN BUSHELL