Shapes On Tape Lose Control
- Written by Marky Edison
Shapes on Tape is a Brooklyn-based brew-wave/ultrapop group whose infectious hook-laden three-minute bangers represent a new era where loud guitars and synthesizers can coexist and even party together.
Genre-hopping producer/multi-instrumentalist/’90s groovebox enthusiast Adam Kruckenberg, formerly of Midwest glam legend Vibralux, and guitarist/poet Jason Matuskiewicz, a veteran of beloved Lexington, KY band Candidate, began collaborating in 2014, but they didn't complete their sound, best described as a sonic assault of feels, until they expanded SoT to include live rock drums.
Matuskiewicz’s lyrics and straightforward style walk the line between high and low concept with an abrupt three-chord frankness that never takes itself seriously, while Kruckenberg’s powerful vocals and synthetic re-imaginings take the songs to epic proportions. Combined with Heaverin's unstoppable groove, you could be forgiven for wondering when The Boss had time to do a secret collaboration with Erasure. With the help of Grammy-nominated producer and Hedwig alum Justin Craig, SoT's forthcoming album, Legends in The Process, is sure to be supersonic.