CD Reviews
Soft Riot - When Push Comes To Shove | Review
Soft Riot - When Push Comes To Shove
November 2019
Possession Records
"When Push Comes To Shove" is the seventh full length album for Soft Riot!
Soft Riot is the musical alter-ego of the Glasgow based, Canadian artist JJD. Soft Riot and the man behind that name, JJD, has a long history in music styles like new wave, synth, post-punk, dark and cold wave. Having started the music journey back in 90's, while he was still in Vancouver with a first signs of his influences shown in his contribution in a post-punk project, "Radio Berlin".
Jack Duckworth (JJD) has been creating music as a solo project, Soft Riot, for many years now, and there are 6 full length albums out, prior to "When Push Comes To Shove". Each of these albums describes a different story of JJD's lif experiences. Some, creating a darker ambience, other moving to the synth and italo sides of the artist.
"When Push Comes To Shove" is the album that resonates all sides of his music influences. You will find a punk influenced tempo, filled with italo disco sounds and minimal synths oscillators. And the result is an interesting combination of these genres, combining some even more goth attitude and finally creating a dark disco-punk.
"When Push Comes To Shove" comes with 8 tracks, starting with "Taking the Edge Off". A synth based arrangement with the influence of artists like John Foxx leading JJD's creation to a modern new wave. "It's No Laughing Matter" gives this sense of a a dance hit, in galloping pace, using minimal synths. "The Lost Weekend" have the synth 80's emotions flowing with the lyrics and the voice of JJD. "Fate's Got A Bone To Pick With You" is the italo tense with the minimal synths and an addictive dance, almost old school EBM, beat.
"By The Skin Of Your Teeth" strengthen the feelings of anxiety and isolation of the lyrics with a dark danceable synth melody, filled with the a short of Fad Gadget appearance. "Don’t Get Yourself Bent Out Of Shape" is a new wave song coming straight from the heart of the 80's era including this space synths, while "Heads Turn Around" is a synthpunk wave song. "Your Work Is Never Done" is the closing track, moving to a mid to lower tempo using more dark elements and melodies.
Soft Riot's, "When Push Comes To Shove" is a the collection of dark disco sounds, brought to a post-punk rhythm and creating a dark ambience with its minimal synth arrangements and the dark lyrics, describing scenes and emotions of depression and isolation. JJD uses his experiences and influences to create an album that brings the nostalgia of 80's new wave and darker sounds, influenced, even by Severed Heads, or DAF, John Foxx, Fad Gadget to a modern dark synthpunk form.
Info:
https://www.facebook.com/softriot/
https://softriot.bandcamp.com/album/when-push-comes-to-shove
