Strange Days by Voicecoil

 

The theme of loss was a huge inspiration for the new album by Denver Futurepop group Voicecoil.  During the pandemic the uncertainty of not knowing what was going to happen made everything around Voicecoil lead man Mark Sousa seem terrifying. “Then people started to die and I thought my whole world was ending” explains  Sousa  

 For most of the time during the pandemic Sousa couldn’t write.  When he was finally able to create music again he was very inspired.  “I also thought about the course of my life, what I wanted out of it and what I owed to those who believed in me when I was alive” , he says.   

The cathartic effect of music and music production have helped Sousa express how he felt after such a tumultuous world event. The songs “If/When” and “Vesterbrogade” reflect that point in particular.  The idea that you keep going as long as you can and make your life what you want it to be or die trying became a focus for Sousa.  He was inspired by a woman that he cared for very much who suffered a lot pain in her life all the while enduring it with courage. “No matter how much she hurt she had words of encouragement for me.  That will always stick with me.”  Both “If/When and “Vesterbrogade” take the listener on an almost frantic music journey with riveting beats and haunting lyrics.  

During the pandemic people Sousa loved dearly passed away in the span of a year and a half.  According to Sousa these people were the kind of people you only get to meet once in your life and he was devastated by their loss.  “For Katie”, “Why” and “Drift”, are songs all written by Sousa for people that he lost.  “For Katie” has a persistent and nostalgic sound with melancholic lyrics.   “Why” is a layered music journey with imploring lyrics and vocals towards the end of the song   “Drift” takes the listener on a musical odyssey with a tinge of hope afloat upon a beautiful melodic soundscape.  

 Engulfing the listener into a pervasive soundscape of evocative trance beats “Witness” has hypnotic vocals.   “Speak In Sine” has a techno dance orientated pop structure with retro sounding vocals. “Above The Static” instantly transports the listener into a fast paced technoid environment with dark lyrics and undulating, entrancing vocals.  Using repetitive bass lines and factory ambience “Line in the Sand” is filled with ominous lyrics and cautionary vocals.

 

“No Easy Reply” “is focused on the instant judgement of the internet age and the court of public opinion, often armed with no evidence making a judgement and decision about something.  Sousa describes this phenomenon  as “the mob mentality, cloaked in a veil of righeousness.”  He goes on to say that “that kind of thing always seemed to terrify me.”  “No Easy Reply” has foreboding lyrics adrift in a fast and retro beat.

The album Strange Days is a compelling pilgrimage through the soundscape inspired by Sousa’s personal experiences throughout the pandemic and is well worth a listen.