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Softscars
Studio album by
Yeule
ReleasedSeptember 22, 2023 (2023-09-22)
Genre
Length40:11
Label
Producer
Yeule chronology
Glitch Princess
(2022) 		Softscars
(2023)
Singles from Softscars
  1. "Sulky Baby"
    Released: May 10, 2023
  2. "Dazies"
    Released: July 12, 2023
  3. "Fish in the Pool"
    Released: July 12, 2023
  4. "Ghosts"
    Released: August 9, 2023
  5. "Inferno"
    Released: August 31, 2023
  6. "Softscars"
    Released: September 14, 2023

Softscars (stylized in all lowercase) is the third studio album by Singaporean musician Yeule. It was released on September 22, 2023, through Ninja Tune. Starting in May, with "Sulky Baby", six of the 12 tracks were released as singles prior to the album's release.

Background and singles

[edit]

Yeule wrote and co-produced the album alongside Kin Leonn. Additional production was handled by Mura Masa and Chris Greatti.[1] In accordance with the concept of the album, each track signifies a scar tied to Yeule's past.[2] They took the "metaphor" of the scar to stand for each song but "each scar remains soft". Yeule also opined that "time never heals a scar completely" but the pain eases up with time, leaving behind a visible mark. They are convinced that the things their ancestors experienced "got passed down", calling it trauma. On the upside, the scar gives them the feeling of "being protected".[3] Writing the record, they were inside their head, revealing that it hurt "but it was important".[4]

Yeule released several singles ahead of the album: "Sulky Baby" on May 11,[5] "Dazies" and "Fish in the Pool" on July 12,[6] "Ghosts" on August 9[7] and "Inferno" on August 31.[8] They shared the "glitchy, effervescent"[2] title track on September 14, the inspiration behind it being the "garden" of their mind, which is "dark and prickly sweet and sticky".[1] The song explores the core theme of the album, the marks and scars of past experiences.[9] Yeule announced the album and its accompanying North American tour on July 12.[10] While the album will be released digitally through Bayonet on September 22, physical copies will be available on October 6 via Ninja Tune,[11] to whom they had signed earlier that year.[12]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic83/100[13]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[14]
Beats Per Minute79%[15]
DIY[16]
The Line of Best Fit8/10[17]
NME[18]
Pitchfork8.5/10[19]
PopMatters7/10[20]
Slant Magazine[21]

Softscars received a score of 83 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on 12 critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[13] Editors at Stereogum chose this release for Album of the Week, with critic Margaret Ferrell writing that the music feels "electrifyingly urgent", she also praises the lyrics that have "a spiraling reconciliation with the harmful search for perfection".[22] Pitchfork awarded it their "Best New Music" distinction, with Ryan Dombal commenting that Yeule "shifts from future-shocked electronic pop to a super-sized emotional bloodletting steeped in '90s alternative" and calling the album "a blast, its turbo-charged riffs and sticky melodies all but begging you to crank the volume up".[19] Writing for Beats Per Minute, John Amen commented, "There's a confluence of pop, futurism, and poetic self-deprecation here that could almost rewrite contemporary XM". He concluded by saying, "Behind that contorted psychodrama is a voyager who's attuned to the ways of humankind – eminently capable of engaging on their own terms".[15]

Track listing

[edit]

All music is composed by Nat Ćmiel, except where noted.

Softscars track listing
No.TitleMusicProducer(s)Length
1."X W X"
  • Nat Ćmiel
  • Kin Leonn
  • Ćmiel
  • Leonn
2:25
2."Sulky Baby"
  • Ćmiel
  • Leonn
  • Ćmiel
  • Leonn
4:38
3."Softscars"
  • Ćmiel
  • Leonn
3:26
4."4ui12"
  • Ćmiel
  • Leonn
  • Ćmiel
  • Leonn
2:43
5."Ghosts" 
  • Ćmiel
  • Leonn
3:40
6."Dazies"
  • Ćmiel
  • Leonn
  • Ćmiel
  • Leonn
4:24
7."Fish in the Pool" (Shunji Iwai cover)Shunji IwaiĆmiel2:31
8."Software Update" 
  • Ćmiel
  • Mura Masa
3:36
9."Inferno" Ćmiel3:14
10."Bloodbunny"
  • Ćmiel
  • Kavari
  • Leonn
  • Ćmiel
  • Leonn
2:42
11."Cyber Meat" Chris Greatti3:06
12."Aphex Twin Flame"
  • Ćmiel
  • Leonn
  • Ćmiel
  • Mura Masa
3:38
Total length:40:03

Personnel

[edit]
  • Heba Kadry – mastering
  • Nathan Boddy – mixing (tracks 1, 2, 5, 7)
  • Geoff Swan – mixing (3, 4, 6)
  • Nat Ćmiel – mixing (5, 7–9)
  • Kin Leonn – mixing (5)
  • Mitch McCarthy – mixing (11, 12)

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Softscars
Chart (2023) Peak
position
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[23] 57

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Bloom, Madison (September 14, 2023). "Listen to Yeule's New Song "Softscars"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on September 19, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Deville, Chris (September 14, 2023). "yeule – "softscars"". Stereogum. Archived from the original on September 16, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  3. ^ Renshaw, David (July 12, 2023). "yeule Shares New Single 'softscars'". The Fader. Archived from the original on October 5, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  4. ^ Shutler, Ali (September 15, 2023). "Yeule: "I'm not afraid to dip my toes into something different"". Dork. Archived from the original on September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  5. ^ Singh, Surej (May 11, 2023). "Yeule announces signing to Ninja Tune, shares new single 'Sulky Baby'". NME. Archived from the original on October 5, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  6. ^ Singh, Surej (July 13, 2023). "Yeule announces new album, shares two new singles". NME. Archived from the original on October 5, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  7. ^ Minsker, Evan (August 9, 2023). "Yeule Shares New Song "Ghosts": Listen". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on January 29, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  8. ^ Deville, Chris (August 31, 2023). "yeule – "inferno"". Stereogum. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  9. ^ Carter, Daisy (September 15, 2023). "Yeule shares album title track 'Softscars'". DIY. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  10. ^ LaPierre, Megan (July 12, 2023). "yeule Announces New Album 'softscars,' North American Tour". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on January 29, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  11. ^ Pappis, Konstantinos (September 15, 2023). "yeule Shares New Single 'softscars'". Our Culture Mag. Archived from the original on September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  12. ^ Chelosky, Danielle (August 31, 2023). "Yeule Shares The Ethereal New Single 'Inferno' From Their Forthcoming Album 'Softscars'". Uproxx. Archived from the original on January 29, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Softscars by Yeule Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Archived from the original on October 5, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  14. ^ Simpson, Paul, "yeule - softscars Album Reviews, Songs & More", AllMusic, archived from the original on November 4, 2023, retrieved November 4, 2023
  15. ^ a b Amen, John (September 26, 2023). "Album Reivew: Yeule – Softscars". Beats Per Minute. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  16. ^ Robinson, Otis (September 20, 2023). "yeule - Softscars". DIY. Archived from the original on January 29, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  17. ^ Nguyen, Alex (September 20, 2023). "Yeule: softscars Review - healing process heads inwards | Pop". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  18. ^ Rigotti, Alex (September 21, 2023). "yeule - 'softscars' review: operating miles ahead of their peers". NME. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  19. ^ a b Dombal, Ryan (September 22, 2023). "Yeule: Softscars Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on September 22, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  20. ^ Pontecorvo, Adriane (September 27, 2023). "Yeule Makes Artful Glitchpop for the AI Era on 'Softscars'". PopMatters. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  21. ^ Mason, Eric (September 18, 2023). "Yeule 'Softscars' Review: A Grim but Blissful Examination of Self". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  22. ^ Ferrell, Margaret (September 19, 2023). "yeule 'softscars' Review". Album of the Week. Stereogum. Archived from the original on September 19, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  23. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
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