RÜFÜS DU SOL - Surrender
Electronic – Released October 21, 2021 – 11 songs, 53 mins
ROZ
RÜFÜS DU SOL (or RÜFÜS as they were originally called before making the jump across the pond) are back in action only three days after the three-year mark of their previous hit album, Solace. Not only is it the first album of theirs to come out since the band made the decision to move from Australia to Los Angeles, it is also an album crafted during a time of global shutdowns, tour stoppages and cancellations. This is no doubt the album that I have been looking forward to the most in 2021.
The trio flawlessly combine two worlds, melding electronic dance with alt rock to create a signature sound that is not the first of its kind but may very well be the best. Surrender’s lyrics carry common themes: love found, love lost and emote an overall sense of yearning. The warmness of the synthesizer is amplified by the skill of the band’s keyboardist, Jon George, who crafts melodies that linger in the ear seamlessly from one song to another. His array of analog gear allows the album to cover the entire digital spectrum, further accentuated by the creativity of organic sounds layered within each track. Their mastery of melody and their use of effects such as detune, delay, reverb and tape-stop allow for an otherworldly feel (Next To Me, Surrender, and Devotion especially standing out) while tracks such as Make it Happen and Wildfire showcase how great Tyrone Lindqvists vocals really are. Every single band members talent is showcased on Alive, perhaps one of the best songs they’ve released in their history (short of Bloom) – a definite must-listen, even for casual listeners. The album closes the same way their previous efforts have: a progressive buildup with a fantastic payoff in Always, another must-listen to prepare anyone who gets the opportunity to watch their live show.
When I first gave Surrender its first in-depth listen it could not have been in a better place: 30,000 feet in the air, on a plane that was taking me down to the United States to see my family which I haven’t been able to do in over two years due to the pandemic. On the final leg of my trip, Always was slowly reaching its climax as the plane approached the airport. As I looked through the window, I witnessed the sun dip down behind the mountains; the timing was just right and the universe was giving me my own personal Rufus Du Sol sunset show – the same time slot that they’ve requested at festivals in the past and the exact same show me and the boys watched at Osheaga in the summer of 2019. Words can’t really describe the feelings I had at that moment, but it was the kind that made you realize how powerful music can really be. I will look back fondly on that moment for a long, long time.
Surrender delivers on all counts and really shows how the band has shaped and solidified their sound throughout the past eight years. Their grasp of melody, their mastery of combining electronic dance production with organic instrumentation and their flawless implementation in a live setting will no doubt set the standard in the electronic genre for years to come. It really does seem as though RÜFÜS DU SOL can’t make a bad album and this realization makes me very, very happy.
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
Favourite Song: Alive
REID
Too Sweet Reviews was created for weeks like this. With one of the most anticipated releases of 2021, RÜFÜS DU SOL is back with their fourth studio album, Surrender. The Australian electronic trio achieved modest success with Atlas (2014) and proceeded to hit it big on Bloom (2016). Their stock has been steadily rising since, with a huge push from Solace (2018) and an always captivating live performance. The TSR crew’s most recent festival experience was Osheaga 2019. The Chemical Brothers capped off an amazing Saturday lineup that included Two Feet, Sofi Tukker and RÜFÜS as the sun set. It’s the kind of experience you remember forever. A 2020 summer road trip to see more RÜFÜS and Tame Impala was in the works before COVID-19 destroyed all hopes and dreams. Two years later, Surrender had a COVID-induced birth.
Two notes into song one and who isn’t reminded of Runaway by Ye? Next to Me proves to be a solid opener, showing plenty of similarities to what is known and loved from RÜFÜS. Children sing the chorus on Make It Happen and despite a very meaningful message about love, this one isn’t their best. One of the effects sounds like an old alarm clock! See You Again, I Don’t Wanna Leave and their first single, Alive, tap back into the formula that has seen this band blow up. (Honestly, go read Roz’s review. I haven’t yet but he will explain RÜFÜS’ music in ways I cannot.. haha!) This momentum continues right on through to the final five songs too. On My Knees is a chart topper and as fans of Radiohead, one has to wonder if they’re referencing Everything in Its Right Place at 2:24. A very similar sound and a pretty cool cookie if true. Like many of their songs, Surrender and Always are meant to be experienced live. The environment RÜFÜS creates with their music is special and it’s one that comes with the highest of recommendations.
RÜFÜS DU SOL’s music is layered with mystery and intrigue. You catch yourself thinking, ‘where the hell are they going with this?’ Well, it’s worth waiting for. Surrender may have a tough time living up to its predecessors but let’s give the live renditions a shot before ruling it out.
Overall Rating – 9.0/10
Favourite Song – On My Knees
LUNDI
Contemplated just writing “refer to Roz review” here and leaving my score as I can’t give justice to the EDM scene like he can but that’s just not a fair way to treat my favourite electronic band RÜFÜS DU SOL as they return with their third studio album Surrender.
Surrender is a musical case study of being damn good but also absolutely the same as it’s predecessors. It’s a common theme across the entire music industry. The risk of reinventing oneself is most times not worth the downside. RÜFÜS also face the challenge where the easiest way to innovation is with fresh lyrical themes and motifs or new stories but in the feel good house music industry that’s certainly not easy. They’re stuck in a tight EDM industry with limited room to expand, but RÜFÜS are no doubt standing at the top of it.
Surrender catches your attention from the first note of Next to Me that sounds like you’ve turned on Runaway by Kanye West and never loses its grip on the listener throughout. It is a collection of EDM anthems at its finest. The middle of the album particularly stands out with highlights Alive and On My Knees. RÜFÜS have a formula that’s perfected as each track uses a slow buildup of synths and vocal harmonies until it explodes with booming percussion at the climax. You can just feel how it’s built to be heard live surrounded by thousands. This description will remind you of almost every EDM song ever, but RÜFÜS have a special touch that can only be understood by personally listening. It certainly helps having seen what they can do live.
Surrender is a whole lot of fun. Rufus are leading the pack with no signs of slowing down. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it right? See you boys at golden hour.
Overall Rating: 8.0/10
Favourite Song: Alive