The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • TOTD
  • Books + Movies
  • Scene Unseen
  • About
16
new
SPILL NEW MUSIC: BRAND NEW SINGLE FROM THE OFFSPRING IN ALMOST A DECADE “LET THE BAD TIMES ROLL” OUT VIA CONCORD RECORDS/UNIVERSAL MUSIC CANADA
SPILL NEW MUSIC: SLOTHRUST SHARES NEW SINGLE + VIDEO FOR “CRANIUM” VIA DANGERBIRD RECORDS
SPILL NEW MUSIC: LUDOVICO TECHNIQUE “EMBRACE” YOU TILL THE END IN THEIR NEW MUSIC VIDEO
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: BILL JR. JR. – “BLUE”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: SENSES – “DROP YOUR ARMS”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: PERMAFROST – “FEMME FATALE”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: BUTCHER BABIES – “YORKTOWN”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: BEE APPLESEED – “ALL IS FORGIVEN”
SPILL NEWS: ALEX LITTLE & THE SUSPICIOUS MINDS ANNOUNCE ALBUM ‘WAITING TO GET PAID’ AND SHARE NEW SINGLE “BIG LIES”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: BELL ORCHESTRE – “IV: WHAT YOU’RE THINKING”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: ACTORS RELEASES SECOND SINGLE AND VIDEO FOR “STRANGERS” FROM UPCOMING ALBUM ‘ACTS OF WORSHIP’
SPILL NEW MUSIC: ANDREW W.K. – “BABALON”
SPILL FEATURE: HIS STORY RIGHT NOW – A CONVERSATION WITH cEvin Key
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: THE SAVANTS OF SOUL – “HONEY CHILD”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: NICK HUDSON – “SURKOV’S DREAM”
SPILL ALBUM PREMIERE: LEAHY – GOOD WATER
  • MORE
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • TOTD
  • Books + Movies
  • Scene Unseen
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Portraits
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • TOTD
    • Books + Movies
    • Scene Unseen
    • About
Album Reviews
1
195
Editor Pick
previous article
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: EX ØMERTA - EX ØMERTA
next article
SPILL ALBUM PREMIERE: ANALOG - PORTABLE PEOPLE

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE SOFT CAVALRY – THE SOFT CAVALRY

The Soft Cavalry

The Soft Cavalry
The Soft Cavalry
Bella Union

It’s not very often that a debut album comes along that upon first listen, you know it is destined for greatness. Meet The Soft Cavalry. This is one album that has such an effect upon the first listen, it has to be repeated immediately and then for a third time just to make sure what was heard the first few times wasn’t a hallucination. The band is comprised of Steve Clarke (former Slowdive tour manager and musician for many bands, more recently David Brent’s Foregone Conclusions) and Rachel Goswell (of Slowdive, Mojave 3, Minor Victories and solo fame), who are also husband and wife.

Steve is the main songwriter for this set of a dozen songs comprising their debut. His influences have to be so vast as well as close to home. Ranging from harder edged shoegaze to symphonic, easy listening style pieces, the album literally has something for almost everyone. Some songs sound tailor-made for popular radio, and others sound like they need a film to accompany them.

Lead single, “Dive”, gently introduces us into their world. Sweeping phrases and the angelic harmonization make this a perfect initiation. “Bulletproof” was the second single and video (which has Rachel sweetly signing the words in British Sign Language as opposed to Sign Supported English, because it offers a translation of the song’s meaning versus a literal word for word signing of the lyrics — which doesn’t make sense to people like Rachel’s son who is completely deaf). Perhaps the most radio friendly track, as well as the latest single “Never Be Without You” provides you with some sing-along, head-bobbing grooves that will no doubt be cranked up loud on many car stereos.

There is so much more than just the singles to love about this album. “Careless Sun” is a deceptive and fun romp that goes from a gentle mood provided by strings to a blissed-out finale akin to the ending of the Beatles “A Day in the Life”. “The Light That Shines on Everyone” is an acoustic ballad that makes smart use of mellotron and harpsichord. Album closer, “The Ever Turning Wheel” will have you drift to the final notes aching for more.

An early contender for “Album of the Year”, this duo proves to be more than simply where they have been. Hopefully, this is a project that will continue. Steve’s talent for writing along with the harmonies they lay out (to make no mention of the lyrical content which is another article in itself), and the immaculate instrumentation and production make this such an amazing auditory journey.



Artist Links

website_flat_2016 facebook_flat_2016 twitter_flat_2016 instagram_flat_2016

Editor Pick
Item Reviewed

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE SOFT CAVALRY – THE SOFT CAVALRY

Author

Michael Mitchell

Here's what we think...
Spill Rating
Fan Rating
Rate Here
New Criteria
10
—
9.0
Total Spill Rating
—
Total Fan Rating
You have rated this
Album Reviews
album reviewalbum reviewsbella unionbulletproofthe soft cavalry
album review, album reviews, bella union, bulletproof, the soft cavalry
About the Author
Michael Mitchell
Michael Mitchell
Michael Mitchell's love of music started at an early age and slowly became an addiction that courses through his veins to this very day. It is guaranteed that if you are in his proximity, he will try to get you to travel to the nearest record store and make you buy beyond your means. His wife and two children acknowledge his problem and continue to encourage him into rehab. He currently writes for Torched, Stereo Embers, God is in the TV, ReGen and Spill magazines.
RELATED ARTICLES
album reviewalbum reviewsbella union
 
10
cEvin Key
10

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: cEvin Key AND THE SUBCONSCIOUS ELECTRONIC ORCHESTRA – RESONANCE

by Kathy Nichols on February 19, 2021
cEvin Key And The Subconscious Electronic Orchestra Resonance Artoffact cEvin Key’s fifth solo album, Resonance (formerly [...]
 
8.0
Creedence Clearwater Revival

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL – PENDULUM/MARDI GRAS (50TH ANNIVERSARY HALF-SPEED MASTERS)

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on February 12, 2021
Creedence Clearwater Revival Pendulum/Mardi Gras (50th Anniversary Half-Speed Masters) Craft Recordings Creedence Clearwater [...]
 
10
The Band

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE BAND – STAGE FRIGHT (50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION)

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on February 12, 2021
The Band Stage Fright (50th Anniversary Edition) Capitol Records The latest reissue from The Band Stage Fright, is a prime example of many things. Firstly, it is [...]
 
7.0
The Holdouts
8.2

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE HOLDOUTS – FOR REASONS UNKNOWN

by Gerrod Harris on February 8, 2021
The Holdouts For Reasons Unknown Tarantula Tapes The latest offering from Tarantula Tapes’ roster is St. Catharine, Ont.-based The Holdout’s sophomore EP, For Reasons Unknown. It [...]
 
7.0
Cultures Of Soul

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – SATURDAY NIGHT: SOUTH AFRICAN DISCO POP HITS 1981-1987

by Gerrod Harris on February 5, 2021
Various Artists Saturday Night: South African Disco Pop Hits 1981-1987 Cultures Of Soul While the likes of Prince, Madonna, and Michael Jackson [...]
Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: cEvin Key AND THE SUBCONSCIOUS ELECTRONIC ORCHE...
10
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL – PENDULUM/M...
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE BAND – STAGE FRIGHT (50th ANNIVERSARY...
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE HOLDOUTS – FOR REASONS UNKNOWN
7.0
8.2
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – SATURDAY NIGHT: SOUTH A...
7.0
Latest Live Reviews
View All
 
Lord Huron

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LORD HURON ALIVE FROM WHISPERING PINES: EPISODE 2 OF 4 (VIRTUAL EVENT)

by Robert Defina on February 18, 2021
66
 
Small Town Titans

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: SMALL TOWN TITANS @ SMT HQ, YORK (PA)

by Gerrod Harris on February 6, 2021
30
 
Lord Huron

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LORD HURON ALIVE FROM WHISPERING PINES: EPISODE 1 OF 4 (VIRTUAL EVENT)

by Robert Defina on January 7, 2021
369
 
Wardruna

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: WARDRUNA – ‘KVITRAVN’ PRESENTATION (ONLINE PERFORMANCE)

by Samantha Wu on December 10, 2020
190
 
Evanescence

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: EVANESCENCE @ ROCK FALCON STUDIO, NASHVILLE (TN)

by Melinda Welsh on December 5, 2020
59
Tweets by @spillmagazine

SPILL MAGAZINE MENU
  • Home | The Spill Magazine
  • Premieres
  • Album Reviews
  • Books + Movies
  • Features
  • Live Reviews
  • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment Headlines
  • Concert Listings
  • Toronto Concert Venues
  • About Us
  • Contests
  • New Music
  • Spill Magazine Contributors
  • TOTD
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Scene Unseen
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2020 | The Spill Magazine
All Rights Reserved.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW
   
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY – MECHANICAL SOUL
670
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PAUL McCARTNEY – McCARTNEY III
575
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GUIDED BY VOICES – STYLES WE PAID FOR
551
 
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: CHURCH OF TREES FEAT. CAROLE POPE – “WORLD’S A BITCH”
460
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LORD HURON ALIVE FROM WHISPERING PINES: EPISODE 1 OF 4 (VIRTUAL EVENT)
369
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BLACK PISTOL FIRE – LOOK ALIVE
359
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS – LIVE IN BOSTON, 1982: THE COMPLETE CONCERT
347
 
SPILL NEW MUSIC: “SHAMELESS” STAR WILLIAM H. MACY RELEASES DEBUT SINGLE “WHISKEY DELL” UNDER “WILLIE CREEKS” MONIKER
324
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LOWEST OF THE LOW @ LEE’S PALACE, TORONTO
307
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE DIRTY NIL – FUCK ART
280
 
SPILL FEATURE: TRULY ORCHESTRATING HIS OWN LIFE – A CONVERSATION WITH RICK SPRINGFIELD
274
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CHRIS CORNELL – NO ONE SINGS LIKE YOU ANYMORE
272
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GRIEVOUS ANGELS – SUMMER BEFORE THE STORM
266
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES