Feel Feelings. Soko

Is it possible not to feel feelings? A question I can't help musing on, reading the title of Soko's new album. My answer is no. Personally I can try to ignore them but not to feel them, even for a short while? Impossible. The other side is wallow in feelings. There's an end to enjoying that as well. The real world is always calling at some point.

These musings aside, I'm about to share my feelings listening to Soko's new album. In 2014 and 15, Erwin Zijleman took the honours of things Soko on this blog. In 2020 it is my turn.

If anything Feel Feelings is a cool album. The way Soko sings does not allow for heavy emotions to be shared with her listeners. The music is sober as well. The sober drumming is the backbone of a song like 'Being Sad Is Not A Crime'. The dry snare drum is the defining sound. Around it other instruments can meander like Soko's voice does in the harmonies she creates herself. From there instruments weave in and out, creating a very dreamy song, where at the same time many things happen. Paying attention is certainly necessary, as not to miss interesting developments within the song. It is a delicately built, soft, yet very solid song.

Stéphanie Alexandra Mina Sokolinski is a 34 year French singer from Polish-Russian-French-Italian decent. That explains the French singing on the album, although the main language is English. Feel Feelings is her third album and first since 2015. She was not in a hurry to produce a new album and that shows in the atmosphere of Feel Feelings. The album in general is relaxed in mood. "Looking for, looking, looking, looking for (someone to) love", she sings in 'Looking For Love'. The lyric and way of singing makes clear that just anybody to love won't do. The way she sings it is almost like an adolescent dreaming of love without having any experience of love. Posters on a wall experience.

The dreamy part of the album is also its problematic part. There are moments that I cannot get into this mood. Simply because I do not have the time to get into this luxurious mood of not having to have to do anything necessary to enjoy Feel Feelings. In those moments the album is over before I have noticed it. If however I do have the time and I am in the mood for dreamy music like Soko presents to me, I have a great time. Simply not having to do anything is a luxury, moments that need to be well spent.

In the way of singing Soko presents herself as a modern French sigh girl, singing English, a huge difference with the generation before her that sang in French exclusively. Breathy, sighing, longing is presented in an ultimate way in 'Quiet Storm'. Soft and slow. The band behind her is modern and more alternative. The indie mood is a mix of 80s indie rock, REM and Pavement jingle jangle guitars in a very slow tempo. In 'Don't Tell Me To Smile' the tempo even goes down further, the atmosphere more mysterious, her singing darker.

The title Feel Feelings sounds like a note to self in my ears. The big feelings are not on the album. For me that's quite okay. Soko has produced an album that convinces. She taps into different parts of popular music and incorporates them into her own sound. As dreamy as Donna Blue can be (in 'Replaceable Heads') and combining that with soul of the mid 70s like e.g. Love Unlimited. 'Walking In The Rain With The One I Love' or the Three Degrees' 'Dirty Old Man' slowed down considerably. Soko does it without falter. That makes Feel Feelings an album that, when all is said and done, stands out. Ever so hesitantly, ever so self-assured. Feel feelings is what Feel Feelings does allow for, if you let it.

Wo.

You can buy Feel Feelings here:

https://www.roughtrade.com/gb/soko/feel-feelings


or listen to our Spotify Playlist to find out what we are writing about:

https://open.spotify.com/user/glazu53/playlist/6R9FgPd2btrMuMaIrYeCh6?si=KI6LzLaAS5K-wsez5oSO2g