ALBUM REVIEW – “Softscars” by yuele
BY: Nico Bacic
This is the third LP released from singer and performance artist yuele, and my first introduction into their work. The album draws from a variety of genres, making it difficult to put it into just one category of music. Elements of shoegaze, dream-pop, indie, and glitch-pop all blend into a mesmerizing project about pain, self-hatred, and existentialism.
The number one thing that stands out on this album is the production of the soundscapes. The heavily distorted guitars, the glitchy vocals, and the Aphex Twin style drum beats create a dense ear candy that gets better with every listen. This stands out especially on songs such as “Softscars” and “4ui12”, two of the album’s best tracks. These tracks do an amazing job creating a melancholic landscape that reminds me of something that belongs in The Matrix. Yuele doesn’t restrict this medium to be auditory either, their music videos are a complete acid trip that do not hold back in the slightest, and greatly add to the enjoyment of the tracks. The first half of the album is concluded with a serenading piano interlude, “Fish in the Pool”, that is a pristine palette cleanser to prepare you for the rest of the album.
However, the second half of the album falls fairly flat compared to the rest. The songs here lack the density of production introduced in the first half and begin to wear on the ears. Things pick up a little by the penultimate song, “Cyber Meat”, and the consequential closer, “Aphex Twin Flame”, but by then it’s a little too late. Still, these feel like minor faults when compared to the project as a whole.
yuele’s third project offers a captivating journey through a diverse musical landscape, seamlessly blending genres to explore themes of pain and existentialism. While the album’s first half impresses with its dense and mesmerizing production, the second half falls somewhat short, yet the overall impact of the project remains substantial, leaving a lasting impression that transcends its minor flaws.
Favorite Tracks: “sulky baby”, “daizies”, “4ui12” and “softscars”
