Sydney dance trio Rufus return on their sophomore outing with a more polished production, weaving flowing melodies with sonic subtleties and plenty of emotions.
Rufus/ Bloom
Australia has produced more than a handful of outstanding electro outfits over the past decade. Bands like The Presets, Van She, Cut Copy, Bag Raiders, Empire of the Sun, Miami Horror and Flight Facilities all had a hand in crafting that distinct “Australian sound” — lush, sun-kissed, drop-free electronic dance music that is the polar opposite of the EDM movement in North America. It’s the kind of sound that doesn’t just serve the grand purpose of getting the crowd going at music festivals; it can also be danced to alone bedrooms or even be played in the background while looking out a window brooding.
With the advent of Sydney’s Rufus, a teaming of vocalist/guitarist Tyrone Lindqvist, drummer James Hunt and keyboardist Jon George, that Australian sound has been slightly updated to evolve with the times. The trio’s No 1 debut album, 2013’s Atlas, was a revelation. Tracks like Take Me, Desert Night and the breathtaking Imaginary Air blended dance smarts with a lot of heart. We had the pleasure of catching these guys live in Berlin back in 2014, and despite technical issues and an increasingly impatient audience, the lads soldiered on like real champs.
Having ensconced themselves in the Germany’s party mecca during the making of their second album, Bloom, the three have expanded on their Down Under sound to incorporate Berlin’s blissed-out sentimentalities. Singles You Were Right, Like An Animal and Say A Prayer For Me all shimmer with synth layers and longing lyricism — two characteristics that extend throughout the album (Brighter, Daylight, Hypnotised and Lose My Head are other examples).
While most songs on Bloom can blend into each other, there are standouts here including the delightfully upbeat Be With You and Tell Me, as well as the gentle surge of Until the Sun Needs to Rise and closing track Innerbloom, which clocks in at just under 10 minutes.
Similar to Atlas’ Imaginary Air, the track takes its own sweet time with the ebb and flow of electronica, gradually building it to a near standstill at the halfway point. It then erupts back to life with synth flourishes as Lindqvist repeats “If you want me, if you need me, I’m yours” in a tone awash in utter desolation and incurable longing. It’s hands down the most startlingly mature piece of music the group has made to date.
Despite its overt display of downcast emotions, Bloom is a dance album filled to the brim with musical nuances and subtleties. All of the elements of a “banger” are there — warped synth layers, dance grooves and percolating bass, but they’re not engineered for the sole purpose of simply thrusting you onto the dancefloor. Rather, they’re there to support the sentiments that are often overlooked in this particular genre, and that is a beautiful thing to witness.
THE PLAYLIST
Phum Viphurit/ Run
Rats Records’ rising singer-songwriter Phum Viphurit has hit the spot once again with his latest cut Run, a follow-up to exceptional predecessors like Adore and Trial & Error. “You’ve been camping all over my mind/Diggin’ for purple matter/Feeding your fire/I’ve been hanging about on cloud nine/Sippin’ on ageing fine wine,” he offers in the opening verse, accompanied by only an acoustic guitar. As usual, his songwriting chops are on point and his world-weary voice impressively belies his tender years.
Kanye West (featuring Ty Dolla $ign)/ Real Friends
Taking a break from dissing other people and generally being pissed off at the universe, Kanye West examines his own relationship struggles with friends and family on Real Friends, a collaboration with fellow rapper Ty Dolla $ign. “Real friends, how many of us? How many of us, how many jealous?” he begins alongside dark, introspective beats before Ty chirps in: “Even when we was young I used to make time/Now we be way too busy just to make time.” The song marks the re-launch of West’s G.O.O.D. Fridays series, but there’s still no word whether it will appear on his forthcoming record.
Mura Masa (featuring Shura)/ Love For That
Operating under Mura Masa, Alex Crossan describes himself as a “19-year-old beat slayer heart breaker producer singer writer lover” on his Soundcloud page. His latest single Love For That finds him scheming up with Shura to craft a glitchy millennial R&B perforated with lush strings and lilting flute. It’s an odd combination that shouldn’t work on paper, but Crossan somehow pulls it off. “Tell me, do you think I’m being sentimental/’Cause all this time I’ve been tryin’ to work out what it was/That brought me close to you, wish I could feel it now,” Shura croons in her amorphous vocals. “They don’t fall in love for that/They don’t fall in love for that/It’s all for you.”
Chairlift/ Crying in Public
After tackling Greek mythology in their last cut, Romeo, Chairlift gets a little more realistic and situational on their follow-up Crying in Public. Taken from their upcoming third studio album Moth, the song rides on a mid-tempo melody against which lead singer Caroline Polachek confesses: “I’m sorry I’m causing a scene on the train/I’m falling for you, I’m falling for you.” Over the soothing R&B backdrop she then adds: “Love will be the bridge/Over the sand/Love will be the key/From hand to hand.” A song designed to be the soundtrack your next BTS ride, perhaps?
Porches/ Be Apart
Be Apart is the second single off Porches’ upcoming Domino Records debut Pool. The New York-based musician Aaron Maine is feeling conflicted about his place in the world for he’s not quite sure whether he wants to be included or left alone. “I want to be apart of it all … I’ll wait for it to come, I am so patient/And when it really does, I’ll let it have me whole,” Maine muses in his yearning tenor as the extended synth chords leave behind a trail of bittersweet wistfulness.
This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.