SOFT RIOT - News on Crux, other releases and activities, and future plans A news update on everything going on with Soft Riot and the new, forthcoming album Crux and where things will go in the near future.

The new album CRUX is out in a month and is sneaking up fast! For those interested you can check out all the happenings here:

www.softriot.com/2026/04/news...

#synth #darkwave #newwave #postpunk #canadian

CRUX | Track 01 | "Moving Out The Black"

Out 15 May 2026 on Possession Records / Minimalkombinat in LP, CD and digital formats:

softriot.bandcamp.com/album/crux (Buy physical/digital)
xelon.ffm.to/crux (Pre-save streaming)

#synth #darkwave #newwave #postpunk

The new album CRUX will be out 15 May 2026! Here is an animated cover version that includes a segment album’s closing track “Ghostwriter”.

Purchase digital, CD and vinyl: softriot.bandcamp.com/album/crux
Pre-save streaming: xelon.ffm.to/crux

#darkwave #postpunk #synth #canadian #newwave

Empire - Empire - SOFT RIOT The one LP called Expensive Sound by the UK post-punk band Empire that years later would be championed by the DC Hardcore scene and even The Stone Roses.

TRACK OF THE DAY

EMPIRE "Empire"

The opening track from a sole LP by the UK post-punk band Empire. A record that years later would be championed by familiar faces the DC Hardcore scene of the 1980s and even popular Manchester indie/guitar band The Stone Roses.

www.softriot.com/track-of-the...

This video for "You Are A Caged Dancer" premiered TEN years ago today. Yeesh. This track is off the 2015 album You Never Know What Might Come Next.

This album was mixed by Owen Pratt who lent his skills to mix the forthcoming album CRUX:

softriot.bandcamp.com/album/crux

#synth #darkwave #postpunk

With the limited edition version vinyl LP of the forthcoming album CRUX selling out with pre-orders within a week, a “standard” LP pressing of the album is now available for pre-order.

softriot.bandcamp.com/album/crux

#synth #darkwave #postpunk #newwave #scotland #canadian

The new album CRUX is now available for pre-order! Digital, streaming and Digipak CD on Possession Records and as a limited edition vinyl LP in on Minimalkombinat.

Listen and pre-order here: softriot.bandcamp.com/album/crux

#synth #darkwave #postpunk #newwave #scotland #canadian

Eyeliner - Keep Calm - SOFT RIOT Being an incognito listener of the genre known as "vaporwave" for quite a while, this nostalgia mood piece by New Zealand artist Eyeliner gets a look.

TRACK OF THE DAY

Eyeliner "Keep Calm"

Being an incognito listener of the genre known as vaporwave for quite a while, this nostalgia mood piece by New Zealand artist Eyeliner and the aforementioned genre in general gets a looking into.

#vaporwave

Rye Coalition - White Jesus Of 114th Street - SOFT RIOT A track from a lesser known, yet standout 1997 album of post-hardcore by Rye Coalition from NJ, with razor-sharp guitars, booming drums and lyrical wit.

TRACK OF THE DAY

Rye Coalition "White Jesus of 114th Street"

A track from this lesser known, yet standout 1997 album of post-hardcore by this lively band of Italian-Americans from New Jersey, with razor-sharp guitars, booming drums and lyrical wit.

#ryecoalition #posthardcore #noiserock

With the announcement of the new album CRUX on Friday, a limited edition CD will be released by Croatian label Tonal Shifts with two alternate demo/mix versions of tracks from that record. Find out more info at www.softriot.com/release/soft...

#synth #darkwave #electronic #ebm #minimalsynth

CRUX — The new album out 15 May 2026

Available as digital, digipak CD (Possession) and deluxe limited edition vinyl LP (Minimalkombinat). Pre-order info soon. Check out softriot.com/release/crux/ for more info.

#synth #darkwave #postpunk #ebm #glasgow #canadian #newalbum

Severed Heads - We Have Come To Bless This House - SOFT RIOT This slow, hazy and warm yet still beat-driven number by classic Australian electronic group Severed Heads always conjures up a feeling when I hear it.

TRACK OF THE DAY

Severed Heads "We Have Come To Bless This House"

This slow, hazy and warm yet still beat-driven number by classic Australian, experimental electronic group Severed Heads — from their 1985 album City Slab Horror — always conjures up a feeling when I hear it.

#severedheads

THURSDAY, 05 FEB 2026 I'll be back online for @radio_buena_vida here in Glasgow from 4-5pm UK time playing a selection of favourites. You can tune in on the day at buenavida.co.uk or listen to the archive that will available on SoundCloud the days after.

#synth #postpunk #radio

Anna - Systems Breaking Down - SOFT RIOT "Systems Breaking Down" is a track that has been floating in the background of my life for a while now — by the mysterious UK electronic artist Anna.

TRACK OF THE DAY

Anna "Systems Breaking Down"

Here's a track that has been floating in the background of my life for a while now — a slow, moody synth chugger by the mysterious UK electronic artist known simply as Anna.

#synth #minimalwave

The System - Almost Grown - SOFT RIOT This track by The System — not the other The System I posted about before — was recommended to me by a friend in this confusion.

TRACK OF THE DAY

The System "Almost Grown"

This entry is about ANOTHER band called The System — with the more popular band of the same name being covered here before. About how I came about it, its sound and the overall topic of numerous bands using the same name.

#bandswiththesamename #synthpop

SOFT RIOT - At the end of another year, with a new year to come Well, that's another year done and I figured with that I'd cap off 2025 with this entry to wrap things up as well go into the new year of 2026.

Well, that's another year done and I figured with that I'd cap off 2025 with this entry to wrap things up as well go into 2026.

#yearendpost #newyear #thankyou #support #softriot #synth #darkwave #postpunk #electronic

Three Mile Pilot - Chenjesu - SOFT RIOT The second album from San Diego's Three Mile Pilot gets the occasional listen, and here we also look at the unique style of the band's bass player.

TRACK OF THE DAY

Three Mile Pilot "Chenjesu"

The second album, The Chief Assassin To The Sinister (1994/95), from this San Diego band gets the occasional listen.. Here's a look at the band's dark and brooding (post-punk?) sound as well as the unique style of the band's bass player, Zach Smith.

Aaah! - Slip Away - SOFT RIOT A buried, minimal synth gem from Aaah!, a short-lived Cornwall-based group from the 1980s. One of many groups with an underground classic at the time.

TRACK OF THE DAY

Aaah! "Slip Away"

A buried, minimal synth gem from this short-lived Cornwall-based group from the 1980s. Like many groups doing DIY synth music at this time across the globe they offer a hidden flash of brilliance with this track.

#minimalwave #minimalsynth #uk

Add N To (X) - Revenge Of The Black Regent - SOFT RIOT Coming back onto my musical radar recently, this epic track of punk-influenced electronics is a standout for the UK group Add N To (X) on Mute Records.

TRACK OF THE DAY

Add N To (X) "Revenge Of The Black Regent"

Coming back onto my musical radar recently after a long gap, this epic, classical music influenced track of punk-infused electronics is a standout for this UK group who released a run of albums on Mute Records.

#addntox

Ellen Arkbro - For Organ And Brass - SOFT RIOT The début album and its title track by Swedish composer Ellen Arkbro opts to create expansive soundscapes using lesser used traditional instrumentation.

TRACK OF THE DAY

Ellen Arkbro "For Organ and Brass"

The début album and its title track by this Swedish musician and composer opts to create expansive soundscapes using lesser used traditional instrumentation, and for me is a relatively new listening experience.

#ellenarkbro #lowlevellistening

The VSS - Nervous Circuits - SOFT RIOT A late 90s, cult, synth-inflected post-hardcore classic, the closing title track of The VSS's one and only LP gets taken up with a unique angle here.

TRACK OF THE DAY

The VSS "Nervous Circuits"

A continuation from yesterday's post about Uncanny Valley, the closing title track of this 1997 synth-colorred "post-hardcore" album gets explored — one that is a cornerstone album for my own timeline.

#thevss #posthardcore #synth #synthpunk

Uncanny Valley - Seeds - SOFT RIOT Having had interactions with members of this band over the years, we look at a track from an underrated post-industrial album, "Ugashia" by Uncanny Valley.

TRACK OF THE DAY

Uncanny Valley "Seeds"

Having had many interactions with members of this band over the years, we look at a track from an underrated post-industrial album, "Ugashia" by Uncanny Valley, as well as group before that, Noi Kabát.

#postpunk #postindustrial #electronic #synth

SOFT RIOT - When Push Comes To Shove at 6 Years Since its release in November 2019, here's some reflections on this Soft Riot album, the seventh official one, six years after it was put out in the world.

Today marks six years since the release of the 2019 album WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, which I realised the anniversary of was today, being in southern France at the moment mixing the new album. Some thoughts were written about it in chunks recently:

#synth #postpunk #electronic #darkwave

There's been little hints dropped here and there recently, but a new album is finishing up. Tomorrow I head off to southern France for a week to do the final mixing on the record.

Owen and I will be digging deep into it in his studio in the French countryside.

Felt - Birdmen - SOFT RIOT The first album by English dream/jangle pop band Felt has been an occasional hazy weekend favourite since discovering it well over 20 years ago.

TRACK OF THE DAY

Felt "Birdmen"

The first album by English dream/jangle pop band Felt has been an occasional hazy weekend favourite since discovering it well over 20 years ago.

#felt #feltband #postpunk #dreampop

www.softriot.com/track-of-the...

A little animated "flyer" for a show I'm playing and organising here in Glasgow on Friday, 05 December 2025. More details and tickets at www.possessionrecords.com/2025-12-05/

#synth #darkwave #electronic #newwave #glasgowgigs #scotlandgigs

Practicing a steady hand for something coming down the pipeline. #cutandpaste #knifeskills #oldschool #artwork

What’s that? A little night session, shooting some photos for a cut n’ paste experiment for some artwork for something coming soon enough in the horizon!

Luke Requena - A Picnic With Ancestors - SOFT RIOT A great track by Vancouver-based synth alchemist Luke Requena from his latest album Myth And Murmur, one full of lush, electronic kosmische soundscapes.

TRACK OF THE DAY

Luke Requena "A Picnic With Ancestors"

A great track by this Vancouver-based synth alchemist (and a friend of mine from back in the day) from his latest album Myth And Murmur — one full of lush, electronic kosmische soundscapes.

www.softriot.com/track-of-the...

Hunters & Collectors - Drop Tank - SOFT RIOT "Droptank" by Australian band Hunters & Collectors from their 1981 début offers a fusion of post-punk, pop, DIY percussion and dance music ideals.

TRACK OF THE DAY
Hunters & Collectors "Droptank"

This track from the band's 1981 self-titled début (of which there's two versions) offers a fusion of post-punk, Aussie pub rock, DIY percussion underpinned by rhythmic structuring more aligned with electronic dance music.

#huntersandcollectors