SOFT PLAY's '
HEAVY JELLY' is what happens when you take two punk rockers, throw them into a blender of life experiences, and hit puree. The result? A deliciously eclectic album that's as unpredictable as it is satisfying.
Isaac Holman and Laurie Vincent have emerged from their cocoon of a multi-year hiatus as SOFT PLAY, and boy, have they evolved. 'HEAVY JELLY' is a statement of intent, a middle finger to anyone who thought they had this duo pegged.
From the get-go, it's clear that SOFT PLAY are not content being boxed in. '
The Mushroom and The Swan' hits with a heavyweight punch before pirouetting into an electronic interlude that raises more than an eyebrow. It's this kind of genre-bending alchemy that defines the album, with tracks like '
Worms on Tarmac' somehow managing to make rapping about pavement-dwelling invertebrates sound not just acceptable, but essential.
But it's not all quirky wordplay and unexpected instrumentation. '
Everything and Nothing' showcases a vulnerability previously unseen, with Holman's raw vocals laid bare over - wait for it - a mandolin. It's a gut-punch of a track that proves these lads have more depth than a philosophical debate at the bottom of a pint glass.
