The Rapture are Gabriel Andruzzi on Sax and Percussion, Luke Jenner delivers the vocals, guitars, keys percussion, Vito Roccoforte beats the drums and Matie Safer sings bubbles the bass taps the keys and an ocassionaly taps a percussive instrument. Are they Italian? European?, Nope! The band started out San Diego, California, and now the reside in The Big Apple. The Rapture conjures up idol spirits of the past (The Cure, P.I.L, Gang of Four, and other eighties sensations) and incorporates their souls into a reborn passionate electro-clash explosion.
The album entitled "Echoes" begins with "Olio," an intricate electronic 808 beat with a howling voice sounding as if Robert Smith teamed up with Erland Oye or Martin Gore. I was playing the track on the ride to the bank, my passenger quickly grabbed the liner notes scanning for sampling credits for Smith, Galllop, and Tolhurst. "Over and Over," he searched for credit's to "100 Years." None were found. A generation gap is the sign of getting old I supose, like Space Hog sounds of Bowie and Interpol of Joy Division, these bands shaped our lives. "Olio," winds down to an electronic ending which blends into . . .
"Heaven," which begins with a repeated verse of "1,2,3,4,5,6,seven . . . I'm Floating in a constant Heaven." which then explodes with sexy brash guitars and riveting beats. On the chorus singer Luke Jenner, exclaims "I can't believe that you came here today and took me away."
Toning things down quickly with a lone piano, a waltz beat and a tortured-souls brave plea on "Open Up your Heart," which Jenner begs for a hopeful change, in the most difficult of times.
"I Need Your Love" takes on a "Desert's Mistress," meets Blondie feel with leg stomping beat with undercurrent of Sax and howling vocals, while "The Coming of Spring ," rivets the urgent thrash sounds found in eighties masters, Gang of Four.
"House of Jealous Lovers," the first single, packs a grovin bass line, screaming guitars, deeply suffering from sexual tension, and screeching vocals, provide us with a heafty serving of Disco-punk, which sounds as if Public Image LTD, or !!! (Chik Chick Chik) teamed up with Robert Smith with a sinus infection.
"Sister Savior," brings back the eighties Blondie, Duran Duran shimmering guitars against syth bass with cocaine confident vocals as Jenner sings "Last night I had a dream / a warm field of strawberries and cream / a poor man wearing rusty mail with contentment on his face / He was sipping from a bottle on his forehead read the motto / "If I drink myself to death, at least I had a good time."
Ending the show is the moody "Infatuation" a low end desperado, with low toms rolling in cadence to the deep bass dirge and wounded guitar lics as Jenner tiredly serenades us of his wounded soul, and a girl in the coat in the park.
With all eighties theftings aside, The Rapture delivers a captivating album bringing us back the howling chaos and dancability much missed in music today. Reminding us we've become much to stale of an audience, attending shows and yawning half way through. The message seems quite simple, start moving or shaking, and if you don't at least we've found The Cure for yawning. |