Name: Criminal
Brand: The Soft Moon

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

SBR192LP

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music US

Limited edition

Release date

2018-02-09

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier US

Secre­tly

Tax rate US

Sales:8.875

UPC / Barcode

616892546542

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Total Cap

1 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

SBR192CD

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616892546740

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "616892546740"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

The Soft Moon

Genre US

Rock-Pop

Label US

Sacred Bones Records

The Soft Moon is a neo-post-punk band hailing from Oakland, CA. Formed in 2009 by Luis Vasquez as a solo project, the band has since evolved into a captivating force in the music scene.
With their unique blend of darkwave and industrial sounds, The Soft Moon has garnered critical acclaim for their hauntingly atmospheric compositions and intense live performances.
Driven by Vasquez's raw vocals and introspective lyrics, the band's music delves into themes of isolation, anxiety, and self-reflection. Their distinctive soundscapes transport listeners to an ethereal realm where emotions run deep.

The Soft Moon's latest release, Criminal, available on white colored vinyl.

Through the stark lens of shame and guilt that has followed Luis Vasquez since a violent childhood growing up within the humming ambient sprawl of 80s Mojave Desert, here he documents the gut-wrenching sound of going to war with himself. Battling with his own sanity, self-hatred, insecurity, self-entitlement and grappling with the risk of these things transforming him into a person he despises, Vasquez has laid his feelings bare with this: his confession and most self-reflective work to date. Criminal marks a striking and important chapter in his self-exploration, both artistically and emotionally. As a young musician living in Oakland, Vasquez began to try and process the narrative of his difficult upbringing veiled through musical exploration. Taking krautrock's motorik beats and Post-Punk deconstructions and honing them into a hushed percussive incantation, The Soft Moon's self-titled debut album took shape. The album was released in late 2010 by Captured Tracks and was praised by critics and emulated by contemporaries. In 2012 the apocalyptic conceptual work of Zeros emerged, shortly followed by Vasquez moving to Venice, Italy in 2013, acting as a catalyst for 2014’s release, Deeper. While previous albums were primarily instrumental records, where Vasquez’s voice was diffused amidst the music as another instrument, Deeper marked the beginning of a new musical direction where vocals and lyrics became something more than a mere presence. Deeper was a descent into the womb of childhood trauma, anxiety and fear, and although Vasquez survived this dark exploration of himself, he did not return alone. Working once more with Maurizio Baggio, who produced Deeper, at La Distilleria in Bassano Del Grappa, Italy, Criminal sees Vasquez further explore putting his lyrics at the forefront and letting his raw emotions flow. The album is Vasquez's way of holding himself accountable and seeking redemption for the abuse he inflicts on himself and others, and acknowledges roots in the abuse which, inflicted upon him as a child, broke him.

Criminal

Music US