{"id":84476,"date":"2019-06-27T16:00:46","date_gmt":"2019-06-27T15:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/?p=84476"},"modified":"2023-04-07T14:26:24","modified_gmt":"2023-04-07T13:26:24","slug":"review-softspoken-deaf-perception","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/review-softspoken-deaf-perception\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Softspoken \u2013 Deaf Perception"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-84480\" src=\"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Softspoken-Deaf-Perception-cover-compressor-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Softspoken-Deaf-Perception-cover-compressor-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Softspoken-Deaf-Perception-cover-compressor-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Softspoken-Deaf-Perception-cover-compressor-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Softspoken-Deaf-Perception-cover-compressor-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Softspoken-Deaf-Perception-cover-compressor-465x465.jpg 465w, https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Softspoken-Deaf-Perception-cover-compressor-500x500.jpg 500w, https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Softspoken-Deaf-Perception-cover-compressor-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Softspoken-Deaf-Perception-cover-compressor.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><strong>Softspoken<\/strong> might be an unassuming name, but this Kentucky band have the confidence to go it alone. Without label backing, they have managed to accrue an impressive following. It\u2019s not hard to see why. Their sound is post-hardcore, but it hinges on a beautiful, sweeping vocal. With \u2018<em>Deaf Perception<\/em>\u2019, they\u2019re picking up where their debut EP left off and with such skilful presentation they deserve your attention.<\/p>\n<p>Quickly they re-established their sound with lead single \u2018<em>Paradox<\/em>\u2019. It\u2019s familiar to be sure, integrating rapid guitar chugs with atmospheric lead guitar lines, allows the hugely catchy vocals to soar over the top. Bands like Emarosa were making this kind of music a decade ago, so it\u2019s not startlingly original. Vocalist Sam Scheuer also sings in a style much like their former vocalist Jonny Craig, which makes comparison easy. However, everything here is surefooted and Scheuer\u2019s performance shines in its own right.<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Softspoken - Paradox (Official Music Video)\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zgur29Lic9o?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The album\u2019s mixing and engineering was undertaken by Matt Goldman. Having worked with bands like Underoath and the Chariot, he has captured a pleasingly powerful sound, which is a solid step-up from their earlier recordings. By avoiding an overly processed sound the honesty in Scheuer\u2019s voice shines. This works especially well on \u2018<em>Soundship<\/em>\u2019 where interwoven vocals create a soundscape, without surrendering their emotion.<\/p>\n<p>Where the album excels is its approach to dynamics. Revelling in slow builds and quiet passages, the songs ratchet up the tension, then release it during choruses. This is most effective on \u2018<em>Black Rose<\/em>\u2019 which uses slick guitar lines to draw you in, slows down, then powers back out like a racing car accelerating out of a corner. \u00a0A similar trick on \u2018<em>Dissolve<\/em>\u2019 uses chunkier chugged chords to create a dark approaching-storm style pre-chorus, which pays off in brilliant style.<\/p>\n<p>Confident and sure of itself, \u2018<em>Deaf Perception<\/em>\u2019 manages to be delicate without ever feeling fragile. It may not be particularly original but by using atmospheric and intense melody, <strong>Softspoken<\/strong> have made a great debut album.<\/p>\n<p>3.5\/5<\/p>\n<p>\u2018<em>Deaf Perception<\/em>\u2019 by <strong>Softspoken<\/strong> is released on 28th June.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Softspoken<\/strong> links: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.staysoftspoken.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Website<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/softspokenmusic\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/softspokenband\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Twitter<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/www.instagram.com\/softspokenmusic\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/softspokenmusic.bandcamp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bandcamp<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Words by Ian Kenworthy (<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WhisperingSand\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@WhisperingSand<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Confident and sure of itself, \u2018Deaf Perception\u2019 manages to be delicate without ever feeling fragile&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":84480,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[5879,17225,15621,17224],"class_list":["post-84476","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-album-reviews","tag-album-reviews","tag-deaf-perception","tag-ian-kenworthy","tag-softspoken"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - 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