Renfro - Mathematics

Our review
Customer reviews
Press release

4...according to our Ant on Thu 12 Jun, 2008.

Immensely rewarding CD in from Renfro next who do this enchanting glacial glitch pop thing, Bursting with sublime soul-searching vocals, whirring electronics, emotive keyboards & some next level production, this album is called 'Mathematics' Described as having a shared love of sad dream pop and progressive electronica, this Southern England duo - one of whom is suitably named Atom- have been garnering swooning praise from some very disparate sources. For me, this music would be possibly a little bland/commercial were it not for the sheer slew of warm, progressive soundscapes, plus this alarmingly considered songwriting prowess on display. Drifting, soothing lullabies & blissful future-soul combine with a sad-eyed wonder to produce a music that at once reminds me of early Simian (in the vocals), Sigur Ros, Postal Service, Low & Murcof. It's kinda like downtempo digital gospel brimming with feeling, layered indefinitely with lashings of warm melancholia, twinkles & clicks. So that's you lot rabid as a pack of slavering dogs then .....Produced masterfully by Kramer in a lovely digipak, this is definitely an AOTW contender!

Based in East London & North Devon, UK, renfro are Tim Branney and Atom-James Draper. Tim sings the songs and Atom sources found-sounds. Together they write words and make music from recorded fragments.

Renfro formed in late 2005, born from a mutual love of electronic music and West-Coast vocal harmonies. Tim & Atom like the avant-garde, but often find themselves wanting to sing along too. They enjoy Low and Midlake as much as they do Tod Dockstader and William Basinski, so their idea is to meld experimental electronic musical techniques with dream-pop songwriting.

Early on, whilst waving microphones at elephant seals in Santa Cruz, Ca., they also wondered why pop songs couldn't be made using a soundtrack of field recordings and electro-acoustic manipulations. Those same elephant seals ended up joining a sonic cast that includes malfunctioning leads, NASA feeds from deep space, tapped teeth, burning plastic (a credit card sacrifice), a host of wild animals and numerous controlled bursts of static & distortion.

Words are also important to renfro, and they try to remain optimistic in the face of the political and social realities of modern life. Modernity can be a tough gig, after all. In their lyrics renfro like to explore the poetics of isolation, difference and collapse. For guidance they binge on film, literature and assorted junk culture.

Mastered by Kramer (producer of Low, Dot Allison, Robert Wyatt etc.) their already widely acclaimed debut album, 'Mathematics', finds lushly layered vocals residing amongst twinkling tunes that float on a sea of pops, clicks and melted circuits. A kind of electronic-alternative-gospel-folk for the 21st Century. Sometimes it's melancholy, and sometimes it chuckles quietly in the corner.

The promotional campaign for the album will be supported by the release of 2 remix EP’s, the first of which will feature mutations of ‘Half-Life of Happiness’ from artists including Marsen Jules (City Centre Offices), NQ & e.stonji (both from Kitty Yo) and Damero (BPitch Control) as well as an accompanying promo video. Renfro are also about to start production work on the second Damero album for BPitch Control.

With a substantial and international legion of fans, ever growing worldwide radio-play and the enthusiastic support of renowned Japanese electronica distributor P*dis renfro are set to show that you can, and indeed that in 2008 you should make pop songs from the sound of technology breaking down.

5...according to Andrew J..

I first came across this album thanks to the various blogs that have been raving about renfro's melancholy quiet-quiet-whisper-crackle songs. After tracking them down on MySpace and then finally being able to get hold of this currently rather limited release, I am glad that all the effort's paid off.

'Mathematics' is a collection of eleven delightfully pastoral electronica slices. The band write moody songs over the top of found sound micro-textures that flow and coalesce around lonely word islands. Think Fennesz meets Nick Drake at a West Coast Sound pub quiz and you're some way to what's going on.

Highlights for me include the amazing ''Illuminations'' , in all its woozy multi tracked vocal glory, along with the delicious Half-Life of Happiness which makes your heart melt.

Well worth an hour of your time.

5...according to Andrew J..

I first came across this album thanks to thevarious blogs that have been raving about renfro's melancholyquiet-quiet-whisper-crackle songs. After tracking them down on MySpace and thenfinally being able to get hold of this currently rather limited release, I amglad that all the effort's paid off.'Mathematics' is a collection of eleven delightfully pastoral electronicaslices. The band write moody songs over the top of found sound micro-texturesthat flow and coalesce around lonely word islands. Think Fennesz meets NickDrake at a West Coast Sound pub quiz and you're some way to what's going on. Highlights for me include the amazing ''Illuminations'' , in all its woozymulti tracked vocal glory, along with the delicious Half-Life of Happinesswhich makes your heart melt. Well worth an hour of your time.

Rating: 5 out of 5

So, what do you think? Best reviewer each month gets £10 off their next order!