Soft Option Killing – Every Brutal Act A Service – Cassette – Unrest Production – Unrest 23 – 2007.
1. – Fajr.
2. - Isha’a.
Soft
Option Killing was an industrial project based in Nottingham UK. Two cassettes
were released on Unrest Productions, Rouge State (2007) and Every Brutal Act A
Service (2010). There was a self-titled cassette put out on Hospital Productions
& Abrasive Records in 2010, in addition to this there were three
self-released cassettes. The person behind Soft Option Killing was also
involved in the project Front Towards Enemy/Bear Faced Boy. Soft Option Killing
stopped releasing around 2010.
Side
1, Fajr (the time when the first of the five daily prayers of Islam is
performed), the track opens with samples of fighter pilots discussing targets,
ending in ‘do not engage the mosque.’ Deep bass noises go off as if to mimic
bombs exploding. All of this goes off over a subtle droning sound that changes
tone gradually throughout Fajr. The drones begin to take further depth as the
time moves on, turning into deep rumbles as the atmosphere intensifies. The
shift from wavering wind sounds to distorted code comes in with the changes of
the drones, both elements co-exist uneasily. In part the deep rumbling depths
that Soft Option Killing engages in reminds me of the slower rumblings that
could happen in the work of label mates Shift.
Side
2 – Isha’a. (Second prayer of the day, occurring in the darkness of night.)
Thick synthesiser resonations seem to pull this track into murkier, territory
than Fajr. The drones are ominous and threatening throughout the track. The
synthesisers become more death-like further into the work whilst a holing
distortion sounds off over this intermittently. I’d argue there was a clear policy
in Unrest acts where synthesisers are pushed to maximum effect or to the
forefront of the sound. Soft Option Killing was clearly unafraid to do this and
dive into Death Industrial territory, a few acts on the label revelled in that for
passages of time, S.T.A.B. Electronics lives it. The murkier Isha’a gets, the more
it intensifies and steps up to the mark. It wails and gives deep horn like
drones at the peak of the track – the sound becomes massive.
The
missing in action status of Soft Option Killing adds mystery to the work. The
sound of this tape adds credibility and integrity to the name. There are some
heavyweight acts on Unrest and this easily holds its own amongst them. 6 tapes
released in three years, if ever something should be reissued and known about, it
is this work.
Nothing
and Nobody 2023.
Great review! These tapes desperately need a reissue! The individual behind Soft Option Killing has a new project & has posted tracks recorded around the time of Every Brutal Act:
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I love you. Thanks.
DeleteSorry that was me, I do this blog. I just bought those babies and will review them on here. Life is so beautiful at times, thank you so much for that J Morghen.
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