Soft Science - Sand [CD]

Sand is the fifth album from Northern California quintet Soft Science, on CD for listeners drawn to atmospheric, melody-led music. Its blend of dream pop, post-punk and darkwave pairs luminous melodies with propulsive rhythms and a melancholy undertow.

With ethereal vocals, twin 12-string guitars, bass, drums and synthesizers, Soft Science push further into the noisier edges of dream pop while holding on to their melodic core. The album explores how love, memory and identity shift under pressure, and the choice to keep seeking connection.

“Spinning”, “Go” and “Fade” bring the album’s movement and melodic pull into focus, while “Sand” sits at its centre. The band features Katie Haley on lead vocals and percussion, Matt Levine on lead guitar, Ross Levine on guitar and backing vocals, Tony Cale on drums, Becky Cale on bass and backing vocals, and Hans Munz on atmospheric electronics.