Rufus have taken the Australian sound popularised by Empire of the Sun and given it a twist to match with the times.
Sydney dance trio Rufus return on their sophomore outing with a more polished production, weaving flowing melodies with sonic subtleties and plenty of emotions
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, sunkissed, 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.