Formed in 2009 by longtime collaborators Katie Haley (Holiday Flyer, California Oranges) and brothers Ross and Matt Levine (Welt, The Tank, California Oranges), the group was later joined by partners Tony and Becky Cale (English Singles, Arts & Leisure), and Hans Munz. With alluring vocals, two 12-string guitars, bass, drums, and synthesizers, the ensemble layers copious melodies, celestial harmonies, and propulsive rhythms with lush electronic soundscapes to create “a sound built to outlast trends“. Previous Soft Science recordings include LPs Maps (2018), Detour (2013), and Highs and Lows (2011), a few singles, including a split 7″ with The Luxembourg Signal (2015), and covers of House of Love’s“I Don’t Know Why I Love You” and Northern Picture Library’s“Paris” (both 2018). Soft Science began working on their recently completed album Lines in 2019, forging the record in their home studios together and at times in isolation from each other during the height of the pandemic, swapping tracks and making adjustments from a distance for what felt like an eternity. Reuniting in person to finalize the mix created a palpable excitement, an energy that can be felt throughout the record. Lines addresses living and loving within the complexities and challenges of everyday life in our fast-paced digital world. Their new fourth album will be out tomorrow, September 8th, on Shelflife / Spinout Nuggets / Fastcut Records. 

What They Say: “Making a record takes a lot of effort and it’s easy to get lost in the process. When it was finally completed, it was hard to see the forest for the trees. We were expecting to again self-release on our own label, Test Pattern Records, but were over the moon when Shelflife, Spinout Nuggets, and Fastcut agreed to partner together to allow us our first truly worldwide release. I’m excited to get these songs out into the world and for the band to play as many shows as we can pull off in support of the album.” (Matt Levine)

“When writing the lyrics to Sadness, I was thinking of it as a kind of pep talk – everyone struggles and it can be easy to fall into a negative loop, something I’m really good at. When one is feeling down, that emotion can cloud everything; it’s about coming to that realization and trying to refocus on the positive: sometimes the glass is actually half full. However, it’s not meant to be judgmental. It’s just a reflection on the concept that sadness exists – it’s part of the human experience – but also to not beat yourself up for having those feelings and to remind yourself if you look for it, happiness can also be found.” (Ross Levine)

Their Mixtape:

New Order – The Perfect Kiss

New Order is collectively one of our favorite bands and this 1985 video directed by Jonathan Demme is special. Unlike most of New Order’s videos, this one simply features the band playing this song in a studio, with close-ups of each of the members playing the song; sometimes raw and awkwardly focused on doing what they do. It’s perfect in its imperfections and does a great job of capturing the band at a pivotal period. (Katie)

Cheatahs – Signs To Lorelei

At a time when it started to feel to me that shoegaze increasingly just meant bands trying to sound like MBV, I remember hearing the Cheatahs and thinking that they actually were doing something original and it was a breath of fresh air. (Ross)

New Candys – Twin Mine

When the world was just opening up again from the pandemic, Katie and I made the trip to San Fransico for the first time in what seemed like forever to see New Candys at The Bottom of The Hill and they were amazing! A needed reminder of the joy of live music! (Ross)

Jetstream Pony – Seven Days

We’re big Beth Arzy fans and it doesn’t hurt that she’s now in not one but three awesome bands! Most people would be lucky to be in one band as good as Jetstream Pony, let alone Luxembourg Signal and The Treasures of Mexico! (Ross)

Cocteau Twins – Iceblink Luck

The swirling and distorted lights in this video complement this dreamy Cocteau Twins song that features Elizabeth Frazer’s amazing vocals. Ross and I have had several conversations about  Heaven or Las Vegas, it is a brilliant, and influential album. (Katie)

Film School – Crushin

Sometimes bands focus too much on vibe, like adding more reverb, and not enough on the actual songs, that is not the case here. Film School’s LP Bright To Death is a collective favorite of ours. It’s a great example of a record that has both a great dreamy vibe and the songs to back it up. A classic. (Ross)

The Field Mice – September’s Not So Far Away

The Field Mice are a foundational influence for us. Their mix of hook-filled pop with constant sonic experimentation seemed boundless. Bobby Wratten’s signature melodies are divine. (Ross)

Ride – Chelsea Girl

What can I say, there’s a reason we used 12-string Rickenbackers on Lines. When Ride and Lush toured together I saw them in Sacramento and it was transformational. Prior to that night I hadn’t heard either and went to the show on a recommendation from a friend and they’ve been two of my favorite bands ever since. (Ross)

Low – Days Like These

This song is a haunting masterpiece. We still mourn for Mimi. The first time I heard this song I thought something went wrong with the audio for a second… then I listened to it on repeat and soaked in its genius. (Ross)

The Stone Roses – I Wanna Be Adored

The Stone Roses’ debut album was one of the best records ever made in our book. On top of the genius of the band, John Leckie’s production created one of the best-sounding records I’ve ever heard. Magic in a bottle. (Ross)

Lines will be out tomorrow, September 8th, on Shelflife, Spinout Nuggets and Fastcuts Records. Look HERE for more information on Soft Science.