The Soft Moon - Exister [Crystal Clear]

Released in 2022, Exister stands as the most expansive and sonically diverse work in the discography of Luis Vasquez. Moving beyond the claustrophobic dread of his earlier records, Exister is a bold celebration of the complexities of being alive. It is an album rooted in the "ecstatic joys and crippling lows" of the human experience, serving as Vasquez's defiant declaration of presence: "I'm here, deal with it."

The record is a masterclass in sonic contrast, running the gauntlet from the "gut-churning" industrial techno of "The Pit" to the melodic, unsettling electro-pop of "Monster." For the first time, Vasquez opens the Soft Moon world to outside collaborators, featuring ferocious guest appearances from fish narc and Special Interest's Alli Logot. From the post-punk stomp of "Become the Lies" to the brooding, atmospheric "ballad" of "Sad Song," Exister retains the unmistakable Soft Moon DNA while pushing it into more potent, cinematic territory.