Soft Metals – S/T (2011) [Captured Tracks] // Grade: B+

So often in the man meets machine atmosphere of synth-pop, the mechanical wins out, sucking all warmth, and leaving in its place a cold, robotic semblance of human touch. Many of the genre’s most prominent acts, Kraftwerk for example, embraced the mechanized, as a statement on the rise of technology in the post-war urban landscape. But that was then, and this is now. To create synth-pop in 2011 solely out of minimalistic, repetitive electronic rhythms and digitized vocal effects, would be a pastiche of the past, with little relevance to today’s culture. Portland duo Soft Metals unleash one of the more successful synth-pop albums of recent years with their self-titled debut. Producer Ian Hicks provides danceable synth grooves, while his partner, singer Patricia Hall, warms the dark corners with tender, ethereal, humanness.

Soft Metals are a duo whom are perfect complements, and you might even go as far as to say need one another; without Hicks, this would not be synth-pop, and without Hall you’d have a well-produced electronic album, lacking that something to set it apart. The album art is stark, bearing a black frame and a neutral-toned photo of lovers frozen in time, captured the moment before a kiss. It’s a well-thought-out summary for the LP’s ten tracks; cool in mood, carried by breath pattern.

Synth waves glide smoothly one part video game, one part galactic exploration, across opener “Psychic Driving”. They’re the sounds you’d expect from synth-pop, until Hall’s vocals slink into the mix, drawn out angelically from on high. Her voice defies stylistic categorization. She plays a chameleon, her contributions shifting from filtered background accompaniment (“Always”), to retro pop (“Eyes Closed”) and dancefloor melody (“Voices”). Hall could very much carry the album, turning it towards Sally Shapiro-esque breathy hooks, but she never steps into the frontwoman role, and it makes the album that much more interesting, giving room for Hicks’ textured production to roam and shapeshift with equal focus.

Soft Metals put forth a fantastic first LP, at once bundling nostalgia and updating those sounds for the discerning modern music fan. They leave just enough ends untied to build anticipation for the future.

- Scrooge McFuck