Tindersticks – ‘Soft Tissue’ album review: a melancholic venture into the unknown
THE SKINNY: Capturing the deeply melancholic ambience only the members of Tindersticks could do, Soft Tissue feels both haunting and intimate. Its gentle lines, flashes of rhythmic funk, and ethereal vocal harmonies provide a masterclass in atmospheric soundscapes. Almost cinematic in places and sensually mellow in others, this record evokes a certain kind of quiet sadness akin to images of rainy city streets and late-night reflections.
In the beginning notes, all the energy of a band with a refined outlook comes to the fore, the eclectic mix of influences and approaches creating a powerful emotional resonance that’s difficult to find elsewhere. For those nights when the air is cold and filled with longing and lamentation, Soft Tissue is the perfect soundtrack. However, as the album progresses, the tracks risk repeating the same formula, the once-beautiful art of discovery residing in the back as repetitiveness creeps in.
These are all musicians who are exceptional when it comes to creating true art, but some tracks blur into one another, lacking the variation needed to sustain interest over the course of the entire record. In other words, instead of building on the emotional foundation laid out at the beginning, the songs start to feel like variations of the same idea, offering little in terms of dynamic range or surprise.
At first, the delicate notes and rich textures feel like deliberate choices to create a specific mood, but around the mid-section, these choices become harder to distinguish from a lack of direction. While the album succeeds in creating a cohesive sound and an undeniable atmosphere of melancholy, one that’s difficult to find fault with, it falls flat in places by not pushing beyond those initial ideas. It’s a rainy day rather than a storm.
For fans of: Searching for ‘rain sounds to relax your mind’ on YouTube.
A concluding comment from Robert Smith, probably: “Fascinating. Is my eye-liner streaking?”
Always a Stranger track by track:
Release date: September 13th | Label: City Slang | Producer: Stuart Staples
‘New World’: It’s difficult to capture so many contrasting types of energy in one track, especially when the vast expanse of musical arrangements centres around the melancholy. ‘New World’ sets the scene with an explosive introductory section before settling into something more sinister. It’s engaging, even if it feels lacking in direction in places. [3/5]
‘Don’t Walk, Run’: Kreeping up your spine like a wanderer down a darkened alley, ‘Don’t Walk, Run’ incorporates subdued funk elements that create a sensual, understated atmosphere. It’s compelling in places, though runs the risk of being a little too long and repetitive. [2.5/5]
‘Nancy’: This track appears softened by its stripped-back appeal without lacking texture, mainly due to the smoothness of Staples’ vocals and the gradual building within the rhythm section. [3.5/5]
‘Falling, the Light’: Tindersticks never fails to capture the ambiance of a gloomy, rainy evening, where melancholy finds its place on the heart of those willing to wallow in its cold, safe hands. ‘Falling, the Light’ reveals the album’s softer side with glistening notes and delicate vocals. [3.5/5]
‘Always a Stranger’: Title tracks always have a certain calibre to live up to, and ‘Always a Stranger’ charms in all the ways you might expect, only faltering when it fades into the monotony of the predictable, relying too heavily on familiar patterns and repetitive melodies that lack the spark of the song’s opening moments. [3/5]
‘The Secret of Breathing’: This track achieves the seemingly impossible by residing in a space that evades easy description, the subtly of the hushed vocals against the gorgeous violin creating an atmosphere that urges you to open your mind. [3.5/5]
‘Turned My Back’: One of the more positive offerings, ‘Turned My Back’ offers a beautifully contrasting soundscape with Staples’ lead held against Gina Foster’s soulful backing vocals. [3.5/5]
‘Soon to be April’: Closing the album on a typically sombre note, ‘Soon to be April’ wraps up this entire project nicely, its varying tones of mellowness and optimism bringing together a perfectly subdued crescendo. [3/5]
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out New Music Newsletter
All the latest New Music from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.