Slow Puncture the debut album of Symbol Soup is a rather illusory product. On the surface a homage to the wonderful Elliott Smith and Redhouse Painters records of the Nineties with a strange emotional void at its core.
The illusion seems to be that while both of these artists simmer with the deepest emotions, suppress it though they try, (and they do try), Michael Rea, (who is Symbol Soup), has a voice that it is almost devoid of emotion of any kind.
Whether this is deliberate or not is for the reader to decide. I found it really difficult to personally, listening to Slow Puncture, but it certainly made the journey an interesting one.
It's a record not lacking in decent songs anyhow. Of the introspective, hypothesising kind that you find on DIY, Indie records. Thanks once more to Darren Jones for bringing this to my attention. I wasn't so sure about this one though Darren and switched over to R.E.M's Reckoning just before Slow Puncture came to its own end. Reckoning never let's me down and hasn't for over forty years now. Just as opaque and incoherent in its way, but not to be doubted for an instant in terms of its intent
Probably glad it won't be troubling your top 150! Actually, I'm kind of with you on this, Bruce. I mentioned it as I had liked the singles I had heard, and had high hopes for it. However, as a whole it's harder to like. Think I gave up on my second listen, too. Weirdly, I keep reading that it's his first album, but he has had two previously. I bought Participation Trophy in 2019 and rather liked it. Think this one might be his first on a label so that is how they are pushing it!
ReplyDeleteOh right. Couldn't see anything else on Spotify. I don't always do much research. I just found the lack of any emotion in his voice a bit odd and off-putting after a while. I start the countdown on Saturday. Lorcs. I'm not going to have any difficulty finding 150 albums I like and it will give me an incentive to listen to some of them again. Please keep the suggestions coming.
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