Silver Linings - Sovkhoz

​Silver Linings 

Sovkhoz
self-released; 2016

3.3 out of 5

By Jamie Funk
​

Sovkhoz is an artist from England who just released his first EP entitled Silver Linings. It’s an electric EP with some inspired moments as well as a number of things that don’t work out as well.

The EP starts with distorted power chords, a basic drum beat and deflated sounding vocals. It has a raw, punk vibe that somewhat works except the song needed more energy. It sounds oddly disconnected.

Up next is “Beach Like Limbs” which is more or less a complete departure from the opener. There are a bunch of electronic elements on the verse but the chorus sounds like something from Nirvana if they used pads. The chorus desperately needed a strong vocal melody. In fact more singing all around would have helped. The song takes too long to get back into the verse.

In another somewhat random departure Sovkhoz attempts ambient music on “A Start An End.” The song has some pretty moments which revolve around vocals and guitar. This is arguably the highlight of the songs. 

Up next is “200mg Caplets” which contains a lot of white noise and distortion. He closes with “Hang The Liers” which revolves around a couple of basic guitar chords and a repetitive vocal phrase.

There are some decent moments but this artist has a long way to go if he wants to get close to the same league as some of the artists he is influenced by. More importantly a new artist who is hoping to get heard really needs to find a sound and there is no foundation here because he attempts a different style on every song. 

I thought his ambient music was his strength. He may want to work on that genre and see where he can take it.

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