Rufus Du Sol - Bloom

Rufus Du Sol
Bloom
2016
Rufus Du Sol - Bloom

Rufus Du Sol is the first artist to release an album on Odesza's label Foreign Family Collective. He follows the same trancey path that Odesza has blazed however for the most part Rufus does most of the singing on their own. There is an occasional feature like on "Hypnotized" which really is one of the best tracks on the album. However the house tinged indie dance music that the Australian trio  create is just one piece of the super solid dance music coming out of Australia right now. Other acts like Chet Faker, Peking Duk and Alison Wonderland. Rufus Du Sol and markedly more on the chillwave side of things than those other acts and thus Bloom is more of a flowing experience than an all out EDM attack or a house music all night journey. This is a record you can really sit back and let wash over you, wave after wave, and not feel pulled into one direction or the other. "Middle of the Road" is usually a negative when it comes to reviewing music but here it seems fitting because the sound works on any level at any pace.

This chill attitude however can cause a few issues. For one the lack of highs and lows can lead to an album that never brings you to the peak. There is very little sense of a journey on this record which seems the be the best part of an electronic album these days. Bloom feels like one of the best DJ sets you've ever heard, but not one of the best sets. The adherence to one singer throughout is also not the strongest choice. While his voice fits with the music, the backing track is often the best part and get buried beneath vocals that are often hit or miss. That is why the inclusion of a feminine sound on "Hypnotized" is such a great change of pace. "Tell Me" is the most housey sounding track and would be one of the best if not for the wailing singing in the background. The bones of this record are the best piece, and leave the flourishes and vocals out on an island trying to compete. It seems that when Rufus Du Sol keep things simple they are at their best, and their simple is House Music goodness. This record however has all the pieces to be great, but in a lot of ways just misses the mark. Worth a listen, but don't expect to find yourself coming back and back agian.

6.3 out of 10