Single Review: SOFT PLAY - 'Heavy Jelly'

Photo credit: Thomas Davis

SOFT PLAY were previously known as Slaves, Tunbridge Wells’ favourite punk band. They released a string of 4 pretty killer albums before going on hiatus for a variety of personal reasons. They then returned in 2023 under that highly divisive new name. The one thing that was most important to the fanbase though, was of course, the music. Had they mellowed out? Gone in a slightly more diverse direction? Or just taken a complete left turn? Well, with their 5th album, ‘Heavy Jelly’, due out on July 19th, let’s see shall we?

Punk’s Dead

This comeback track decisively answers one of my previous questions. Have they mellowed out? Absolutely not. In fact, they’ve arguably gotten even more intense. Laurie’s noisy, gnashed teeth riffs hit like sledgehammers, while Isaac puts a biblical smackdown on his drum kit. It’s great stuff. The boys are decisively back. The only part of the track I would flare up as odd is the bridge. The track suddenly transitions into a set of woozy, psychedelic guitar passages and spoken word samples. It sounds fairly cool I suppose, but it really doesn’t fit to me, like it’s only here to go “ooo look, a change.”

The vocals and lyrics are where things get interesting. In terms of performance, I think Isaac does a great job, delivering shouted, rapid fire rants that are as sarcastic and wry as they are furious and intense. To add to that, as much as I think the bridge doesn’t really work, especially with the spoken snippets, a surprise appearance from Robbie Williams goes over quite well, his dramatic timbre giving the track a fresh dynamic.

The lyrics are obviously the focal point though, and I won’t lie, they do turn me off a bit. I understand the want to address the criticism levelled at them about going soft (no pun intended), and a humorous angle would work in theory. The problem is, doing it in the way where they’re sarcastically role playing as bitter jilted fans calling them “PC snowflake babies” just makes me cringe. There’s hamming it up for effect, but this seems a bit petulant in a way. From both sides, mind you. By all means the music and vocals are great, and the lyrical angle makes sense, but the former could’ve been executed a lot more effectively in my mind.

Act Violently

The one thing ‘Punk’s Dead’ did prove is that the boys aren’t afraid to take a more light hearted approach, even if informed by serious emotions, and I can certainly get with that. To actually start with the vocals and lyrics, this time they choose to take aim at reckless electric scooter drivers of all things. You wouldn’t think that would make for an entertaining track, and yet, low and behold…

I think the reason why the humour works, like I said, is because it’s informed by real anger, and you can absolutely tell. Isaac’s delivery is so savage and bubbling with frustration, that it allows him to verge into fully pantomime levels of rage, which translates surprisingly well with the help of some enjoyably mocking lyrics. “HEY! I’m walking here!” It channels old man, “get off my lawn” energy, I think knowingly so, and very much to its benefit. Not to mention it comes packaged with an absolute earworm chorus, with great backing from Laurie.

With the music, it definitely has that classic, rocking, punk energy with the fiery guitar leads, chugging riffs, and stomping, headbanging drums, but parts of it are almost nu-metal adjacent. People online have made ‘Chop Suey’ comparisons in relation to the verses and I can’t entirely disagree. Again it’s fast paced, bubbling with anger, but equally, undeniably catchy. The switch to an almost industrial, hi-hat heavy bridge is a bit odd, but thankfully, blink and you’ll miss it.

The only other criticism I’d have is that I’m not entirely sure why, but the guitar tone on this track is quite lo-fi and brittle. So it does diminish the fury slightly, but not by much admittedly. Slight spoilers for the track ahead, but I think this is probably the most successful crossroads of ferocity, catchiness and comedy the duo have been going for.

Mirror Muscles

I will say this track is maybe the heaviest of the three. Not only does Laurie bust out some seriously mean riffs with some genuinely sinister lead parts, but Isaac taking a slightly slower, dare I say groovier approach with his drums really helps too. There’s absolutely a hip-hop influence at play here, and that’s not a bad thing. It gives the impression of this track as being somewhat like its lyrical subject: a built, lumbering, intimidating beast. There’s almost an accidental whiff of early Sabbath with the slightly doomy vibe it gives off, and I’m liking it.

This time Isaac aims his lyrical crossbow at the emerging culture of roid-headed, brick shithouse gym bros, a subject rife with satirical potential no doubt, but I don’t think they quite stick the landing. For sure Isaac’s delivery is very convincing. Like I say, he adopts a very rap-style delivery, with just the right mix of swagger, confidence and scorn to make it work.

The lyrics do confuse me a touch though. Obviously it’s meant to be a wry observation of how ridiculous “muscle culture” has become, and some of the lyrics like “Mike Tyson meets Rylan” and the like are quite funny. Whether it’s meant to purely be a pisstake, or genuine commentary of sorts I can’t quite tell though, making the tone of the track sit a little weird with me personally.

While it hasn’t exactly been the comeback I necessarily expected, I’m far from disappointed. The music is as savage as ever, Isaac is on top form vocally, and the actual songwriting seems to be very good too. The only question mark for me really is the lyrics. The humorous, “slice of everyday” approach they’ve taken has worked well in places, but been a bit hit and miss in others. How that fluctuation will level out across a full album we’ll have to wait and see.

‘Heavy Jelly’ is out on July 19th via BMG. Pre-order it here. The duo are also playing a number of festival days across the UK and Europe in summer.

See the artwork and track list for ‘Heavy Jelly’ below

heavy jelly All Things