The Australian trio, Rüfüs Du Sol have had a remarkable 2018. Touching down at top tier festival locations such as Electric Forest and Bonnaroo, while simultaneously selling out two nights at The Shrine in Los Angeles in minutes. Setting Rüfüs apart from other electronic acts is their strictly live performances. Rüfüs are one of the most unique shows in the electronic music scene because they feature live vocals, drums, synthesizers, and keyboards.
Rüfüs Du Sol shows no signs of slowing down with a powerful third studio album, Solace, recently released on October 19. They are currently touring throughout America, with a subsequent world tour planned in Europe and Australia until February.
Feel Good, Feel Bad, Spectrum of Noise.
Solace brings us so much joy. Plain and simply, Rüfüs’ new album is about the highs and lows of love.
What ultimately happens to the “characters” in Solace is ambiguous, and it is up to the individual listeners to decide what each song means. Love and heartbreak is evident throughout. Solace and it’s nine songs can be divided into three subsequent sections: 1) The protagonist pleads for a second chance in a relationship, 2) explaining how much the relationship means to them, and 3) the characters honor the feeling of love and it’s positive impact.
Standout Tracks:
We have selected one track from each of the three sections that encompassed the story and mood of the album:
- Eyes – The uplifting melodic sound of Rüfüs Du Sol shines in the first drop. Eyes makes us shout and jump with excitement. It describes the chemical reaction that develops when in love. “I see myself in your eyes . . I see you in everything;” all the protagonist can think about is their love.
- No Place – Without a doubt we think this is the anthem of the album. Released as a single last May. No Place explains the uplifting feeling when two people are together and they begin to feel every problem melting away. The fact that the previous track, Lost in my Mind is very dark and mysterious heightens the uplifting effect of this song.
- Solace – The title track of the album. By definition, giving solace means to show support during a stressful situation. The song Solace could represent a love that did not work out, “It’s time for me to let you go.” The synth work creates an atmosphere that is darker, slower, and more atmospheric than other tracks. When the radio signal fades out at the end, it can be seen as a metaphor for the disconnection between two people that had once been a part of each others lives.
The Structure Behind Solace
Rüfüs Du Sol is a trio of producers that perform numerous instruments in their live shows. One of their producers, Tyrone Lindqvist, is also their lead singer, while Jonathan George handles the synthesizer/piano and James Hunt plays drums. Every song on Solace features vocals from Lindqvist.
The songs don’t blend or mesh together, they have unique characteristics that set them apart. In regards to genre structure, Rüfüs mostly ranges close to deep house. Some songs are more melodic and uplifting, while others have darker tones that take us to the deep underground. The change in mood throughout is reflective by Lindqvist’s vocals.
The trio performing together at Electric Forest 2018
Solace is an album that continues to get better with subsequent listens. We advise our readers to listen multiple times in attempts to fully understand the story. When the album concludes, do things work out for the two characters? Were the emotional highs and lows worth it?
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Will you be catching Rüfüs on tour in the upcoming months? What was your favorite track off the album? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter!
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