RUFUS
Atlas
Sweat It Out!
Sydney chaps RUFUS have crept into the consciousness of just about everyone with a radio transmission signal and internet connection and it certainly isn’t hard to see why. A stage rush at last years Big Day Out is no mean feat for a fledgling band and the drip feed of singles that have been seductively stroking ears over the past year finally brings us to the release of ‘Atlas’, the debut LP that will mean fans everywhere can finally exhale.
The first offering from the trio possesses some dizzying highlights. Bridging the gap between indie pop and smooth house sensibilities, RUFUS sound as though they are the impossibly cool lovechild of Cut Copy and Van She on occasion, if only for the pleading vocals and driving synth lines. Just check out ‘Sarah’ for proof.
Elsewhere, sophomore single ‘Desert Night’ is 5 minutes and 25 seconds of unbridled bliss. Dipping into a deep house bass line paired with those aching vocals and a devastatingly beautiful melody, well, that’s a future classic right there. ‘Two Clocks’ builds to a pulsating pace that alternates between dreamy, lovelorn whimsy to an unforgiving, tightly wound bass line that hits in all the right spots. Meanwhile, ‘Take Me,’ complete with wave lapping sound effects and jangling tropical melodies, is so summery you can practically taste the sea air.
RUFUS certainly can’t be faulted for consistency. There are plenty of shimmering, crisp and insanely catchy beats to be found on just about every track on this record, although it’s somewhat problematic when consistency eventually gives way to being just plain repetitive, which is its biggest downfall. ‘Rendezvous’ is one such example; whilst it might have saucy intentions, it disappointingly falls short of the mark.
Intelligently produced indie-dance, RUFUS certainly cement themselves as worth the hype with ‘Atlas’ but there’s a pervasive sense of playing it safe that permeates throughout that frustratingly holds it back just that little bit.
'Atlas' is out now through Sweat It Out!