imaginary music blog

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Thanks to the (hypothetically) overwhelming response to the now quite stale first post (sample comments: “it gave me flashbacks”, “the tracks were really long”), it is our distinct pleasure to offer up a few – thankfully – much shorter tracks.

Recorded at The Good Life in 2006 by Long Beach unknowns Softpack (UK), these three tracks from the unreleased and previously unheard (ahem) “debut album” are less likely to induce any unwelcome fits of post-psychedelic trauma or spontaneous napping.

Addendum, Oct. 2009
Recently, it has been brought to our attention that there is indeed a real-live genuine BAND going around performing under the obviously popular and clearly ingenious name of “The Soft Pack”. Please be aware that this actual living, breathing group of musicians has nothing at all to do with the tracks available here (to their relief, undoubtedly). We regret this mistake and will heretofore refer to the band championed here as “Softpack (UK)”. We hope that this will clear up any confusion, lost wages, or damaged relationships this egregious and inexcusable error may have caused.

Softpack (UK) – One for Gene | 4:49
From the unreleased “Softpack” debut
Long Beach CA, 2006

According to the track notes this one has something to do with some kind of “metaphorical universal wheel”. We’re not entirely sure what Softpack had in mind with that exactly but it sure sounds like guitar music to us. No keyboards, no vocals, no problem.

Softpack (UK) – You Are Apollo 13 | 4:18
From the unreleased “Softpack” debut
Long Beach CA, 2006

Simple, straight-forward 80’s-inflected guitar music. What, no vocals on this one either? What a surprise! The lead guitar is slightly out of tune? What another surprise!

Softpack (UK) – Mouth Hole | 3:37
From the unreleased “Softpack” debut
Long Beach CA, 2006

Take your standard issue guitar/bass/drum/keyboard combo, add in a bit of minimally disguised 80’s reference, and forget about any vocals ever appearing and you’ve got this easy-listening number. Ignore if you can the seconds-long silence that opens the track: the sign of a lackluster audio engineer asleep at the switch.