STAFF PICKS: RÜFÜS DU SOL “SOLACE” LP

October 24, 2018

RÜFÜS DU SOL RELEASE “SOLACE” LP OUT NOW ON NEWLY FORMED IMPRINT ROSE AVENUE / REPRISE RECORDS. 24 DATE NORTH AMERICAN ALBUM TOUR KICKS OFF OCTOBER 26

RÜFÜS DU SOL ●● Lost In My Mind [“SOLACE” LP]:

Live-electronic trio RÜFÜS DU SOL has finally released their third full-length “SOLACE” LP via their newly launched Rose Avenue imprint and Reprise Records. Equal parts rock ‘n’ roll temperament and ethereal electronic soundscaping, the album shepherds the band into a realm of sonic exploration all its own. The tracks retain the anthemic qualities that have propelled the band into one of electronic music’s biggest live juggernauts, but from the offset “SOLACE” is their darkest and most introspective work to date.

“SOLACE” opens with the regret-tinged stanzas of “Treat You Better,” a break-out track that’s catchiness belies the lyrics that yearn for the simplicity of past years and second chances. RÜFÜS DU SOL has built their huge fan base on euphoria and melody, this release delivers both. The band’s lyrics reveal a very personal documentation of their inward struggles. It’s a brutally honest outpouring which can’t help but move both feet and heart.

The voice of lead singer, Tyrone Lindqvist, crying out for help on “Underwater” rings true while at the same time the urgency of the track will make packed crowds dance:

“Help me out before I die

Save me now before I give up

Help me out before I drown

‘Cos I just need some space”

It’s this duality that makes this record both fascinating and captivating. RÜFÜS DU SOL has managed to make an album full of kinetic energy and dancefloor appeal, and yet, it is cloaked with a sense of aching. The discomfort felt throughout the record is balanced by the welcomed lightness that comes when internalized problems are faced head-on, illustrating a story of self-love realized.

A sense of place and the sentiments that accompany it have always been a crux of the RÜFÜS DU SOL songwriting process. The band’s debut album was recorded in Australia’s idyllic east-coast while their sophomore “BLOOM” LP was produced in Berlin. These environments imbue the record with a certain mood and flavor, and “SOLACE” is no different. Recorded in Los Angeles, the record exudes not the Hollywood glitz, but rather the shadowed lest oft seen underbelly of the city as well as the barren but beautiful spaces of the desert.

SOLACE’s singular fusion of analog sound design and emotional songwriting has earned early support from industry titans like Pete Tong and Zane Lowe, while the band was honored as Mixmag’s Cover Stars this September. The band also recently performed on KCRW’s Morning Become Eclectic: https://kcrw.co/2Ac0RXA

The crux of RÜFÜS DU SOL remains the deep connection felt between the band and their dedicated global fan base in the live space. The band recently announced the beginning of a world tour in support of “SOLACE” with sold-out plays at London’s Print Works and Berlin’s Astra Club, and a triumphant run of three back to back sold-out nights at the LA Shrine Expo Hall. Additional fall dates include sold-out shows at Emo’s in Austin, TX, The Van Buren in Phoenix, Denver’s The Fillmore, Boston House of Blues, Montreal’s METELUS and a stand out Halloween performance at San Diego’s Valley View Casino Centre, as well as three nights at NYC’s Terminal 5.

“The record is more personal and vulnerable than we anticipated. We had some of the most amazing times in the studio, as well as some of the most isolated, lonely times. That contrast naturally bled into what we were writing, which is why solace is our ode to finding peace in a time of distress.” – James Hunt