Structurally and sonically, then, this represents a strong progression for Arp, and even if the analogue workings are inevitably paying a heavy debt to the early 1970s, they are a pay off well worth making for a slightly indulgent but enlightening sonic voyage.
There's still a fair amount of oscillating drone and trance-inducing patterns here, but their components are more organic than before. While In Light leaned heavily on synthesizers, The Soft Wave noticeably uses more electric guitar and bass, which mixes with the structural void to create an almost three-dimensional texture.