No. by Soft Riot

Nostalgia can be a really tricky input to process when it comes to music. On one hand, the music of your past is intrinsically linked to you and the music you’ve been around and have enjoyed forever is going to inform your future listening and music creation. In this way nostalgia can be a valuable source of inspiration. On the other hand, we’ve all been hit over the head incessantly with nostalgia in recent years, people and corporations clinging to the profitability of what once was and our cloudy, rose-colored memories of a simpler time.

Long-running darkwave and post punk artist Soft Riot deftly avoids a sense of superficial nostalgia with their newest release No. This project is packed with darkwave synth bangers for the goth club, presenting 80s industrial packaged for the present day in a way that feels authentic and enjoyable. The album features zipping synth chords layered with more synth to harmonize and a clapping snare tone that all pairs really nicely with the artist’s deep gothic talk-singing. Expansive production and lyrics expressing the resignation associated with living in the 2020s launch this sound into the modern day and add interest. Each track flows seamlessly from one to the other, remaining dark and urgent all the way through and immersing the listener into an atmosphere where we can dance through the chaos. Soft Riot expands their palette and musical chops in their newest release, balancing our memories of a begone time and that which is entirely new