“Soft Copy’s abstract and muscular anthems fuse both Sonic Youth and Mission of Burma at their very best […] listen to it on repeat until your ears melt.” – Dave Morris, EYE Weekly 4 out of 5
“Vicious Modernism is solid from start to finish, and pushes Soft Copy to the top of my list of local bands to see in 2010.” – Jordan Bimm, NOW Toronto. (NNNN)
"But what they've done on Vicious Modernism, even with its era-identifiable influences, sounds anything but dated. Not unlike Canadian rock institution Ian Blurton's defining work with Change of Heart, Soft Copy's songs range from having a punk-influenced hard edge to a straightforward power pop vibe ("Extracurricular"), and even a softer, near-ballad turn ("First Date")." Exclaim!
Ryan Bigge of Broken Pencil describes Soft Copy release Wolf, Wolves and more wolves (2006) as “[…] a swirling mix of power-pop that reminds me of my favourite bands from the 1990s (including Sugar and My Bloody Valentine) while still sounding fresh and contemporary.”[1]
Formed in 2005, Soft Copy’s ethos is embedded in the punk rock DIY aesthetic, with their music informed by early post-punk and later avant-rock. As Bigge describes “[…] they're DIY to the core, having recorded and mixed the album themselves.” Then bassist Mark Pindera (Brainiacs, Connery Artists), drummer Paul Boddum (NECK, Christiana, Kid Sniper) and guitarist, singer-songwritier Andrew McAllister (NECK, Christiana) created the 10 song Wolf, Wolves and more wolves as a free digital release as an antidote to the prevailing zeitgeist that demanded standard metaphors in the changed age of internet tubes and digital optimism.
After the first release Pindera departed for the UK, and Wes Hodgson (previously of Newfoundland punk-rock act Hung Up) swung the band’s tonality from Stooges to Shellac. This lent itself to ideally to the angrier and uncanny Vicious Modernism (2010). With cover-art that operates as an homage and requiem to recent rock history, the eleven track recording (again recorded and engineered by Soft Copy) operates with brevity and clarity, echoing personal and political themes from Wolves including groupthink, the financial meltdown, being lost and young love.
[1] http://www.brokenpencil.com/features/feature.php?featureid=109
