The spiel for this latest offering from Brooklyn four-piece, Alexander F, tells us that the idea for ‘Soft Coffins’ came to the eponymous Alexander while he was away on an 11-day silent meditation retreat. Which makes sense, as this track comes with the kind of boisterous, fresh vigour that only a rejuvenated soul can muster.
As with many offerings from NYC involving guitars these days, there seems to be a clear genetic link to The Strokes’ oeuvre, with an opening salvo reminiscent of an ‘Is This It’ cut on the pea protein. Toth’s crew go way beyond the Casablancas Template, though, with a yowling vocal harking back to fellow Brooklynites LCD Soundsystem in their pomp via a bombastic OK Go ‘na-na-na’ chorus. Overtones of golden-era Pixies preside over the mélange, lending a perfect amount of mischievous malevolence to give Toth’s insistent “why don’t you come out and play?” refrain Cheshire Cat teeth.
Toth describes his new project as ‘New-Age Punk’; a fitting casing for a sound layered with spikes, yet borne out of passive and peaceful self-reflection. The full album, out next year, is peppered with a healthy sprinkling of guests – including Gotye collaborator Kimbra – and judging by this early offering, may well prove one of 2017’s shiniest contenders.
