Last January the shocking news came in that Jose Luis Vasquez,
better know by his artistic moniker The Soft Moon died at age 44,
alongside techno DJ Silent Servant (John Juan Mendez) and Mendez‘s
partner Simone Ling, of suspected fentanyl poisoning.
His atmospheric darkwave/post-punk work (6 albums)
made a great impact on the related scene.
The last musical thing he did, is now online and on French
electro act M83‘s new deluxe edition (you can stream it below)
of their 2023 comeback album Fantasy.
It’s Vasquez’s remix of the LP’s single OCEANS NIAGRA
Artist: THE SOFT MOON Who: The moniker of Californian singer-songwriter/musician/producer Luis Vasquez Active: Since 2009 / 5 studio LPs (new one included)
New album: EXISTER Released: 23 September 2022 – Buy here
Luis Vasquez: “The whole point of this record was to share every emotion that I feel. No two songs are the same. It’s about existing in the world as a human being and experiencing many emotions and experiences throughout life. And so hence the title Exister, a record rooted in the ecstatic joys and crippling lows that life can throw up and how just hanging on and existing is sometimes all we have. “Exister is my way of saying ‘I’m here, deal with it.’”
Slant Magazine says: “Exister sees Vasquez throw himself even deeper into the raw emotions explored in his previous work. Like 2018’s Criminal, the album represents another step forward for the Soft Moon, as Vasquez processes his pain with a newfound level of honesty, and an uncanny ability to build on the well-established musical ideas he so enthusiastically draws from.” Score: 4/5.
TUTV: Once you get on this emotional roller coaster you’ll stay there for the whole ride, you’ll be too curious to know if it crashes. Vasquez mixes darkwave/industrial/psychedelia and all related mind-exploring noise catalysts into an inflammable cocktail serving his mood swings. He goes through a tunnel of fear and anger and nailed a fitting soundtrack to go with his befuddled state of mind. Get on board.
