The Grammy-Award winning live electronic trio RÜFÜS DU SOL released their highly anticipated fifth studio abum Inhale / Exhale.
Ready to steer the ship into a new direction, RÜFÜS DU SOL bring us their latest studio album Inhale / Exhale in what might be the most transformative decade for them yet. With a refreshed workflow and a new creative approach, Inhale / Exhale takes us on RÜFÜS’ most mature and heartfelt journey yet. With this project especially, do they demonstrate their growth and evolution when it comes to sonic diversity and poetic vulnerabity. Effortlessly encompassing universal themes of love and belongingness, RÜFÜS DU SOL once again proves that electronic music knows no limits. It brings fans together fans and songwriters who grew up on the dancefloor, filling not only clubs, but entire stadiums alike. With Inhale / Exhale, RÜFÜS bring us a profound sense of strength, preiously unheard of. In track number 9 on the album “The Life,” the band’s singer Tyrone Lindqvist sings,
“No matter where the road takes me
There’s nothing in this world
That could break me
Your love is like propane
So go on light the flame for me“~ Tyrone Lindqvist
It is these genuine and heartfelt lyrics that make the album so special, offering a glimpse into the band members’ lifes, inviting fans to come along on their incredible musical journey. Combining cues from all across the dance music scene and merging the worlds of organics and electronics, Inhale / Exhale marks a new era for RÜFÜS DU SOL. Equaly, the album is a timeless blend of 2000’s electro, ethereal breakbeats as well as emotive club ballads, making it widely accessible to all fans of dance and beyond.
Inhale / Exhale already garnered support from Billboard, Rolling Stone and Zane Lowe, as well as earning RÜFÜS their first #1 at Dance Radio with the album’s lead single “MUSIC IS BETTER”. Live shows is where RÜFÜS DU SOL shine the brightest, as they thrive in the strong connection to their fanbase. Each show brings us a new and immersive experience, pushing the envelope of what the bond with their fans can be.
About Inhale / Exhale, RÜFÜS DU SOL say,
“This record is very special to us. We’re incredibly proud of it and of what it represents for us as a group. We wrote a lot of music together for this project, and decided early on that we were trying to create something more expansive than we have previously shared. It’s crazy to think we’ve been collaborating on this project together for almost fifteen years, to know that we’re five albums deep now and we’re as excited about making music together now as when we started. Shout out to all the fans who support us, this collaboration wouldn’t be possible without you.”
~ RÜFÜS DU SOL
Track number 1, “Inhale” introduces us to the album with atmospheric, almost hypnotic soundscapes, combining blissful chimes, synths and what sounds like the ticking of a clock. The song carries a beautiful message of togetherness and making each other’s life brighter. It starts us off on this journey with a hopeful outlook on what’s to come.
“Lately” is a smooth transition from “Inhale,” adding a more energetic layer to the atmospheric bliss. It is an anthem about love and deeply falling for one another, carried by a vibrant beat. “Lately” continues to carry the message of hope for a bright future where love rules.
Track number 3, “Breathe” is an immaculate dance track promising to turn any night at a dancefloor into a magical experience. With rolling synths and lively beats, coupled with lyrics, describing divine movement, one has no choice but to dance to it.
“Music is Better” is a loveletter to music and the joy that sharing it with others brings. It deepens the emphasis on camaraderie and togetherness, as well as the magic of music. In addition, the upbeat composition of the track once again invites listeners to unite on the dancefloor.
“Levitating” takes a calmer direction, utilizing mesmerizing synths, coupled with a beat that rolls into a more energetic finale. The track’s message resonates with the previous tracks “Inhale” and “Lately,” portraying a bright and positive outlook on a future, shared with someone else, as well as the deep connection to- and emotions felt for this person.
“Break My Love” picks up where the more upbeat finale of “Levitating” left off. Contrary to the more negatively connotated title, the message of the song is the opposite, stating that the protagonist’s love is unbreakable. It reassures us that love is stronger than anything and that we can overcome everything if we stick together.
“In the Moment” once again starts out as a calmer track, however, it has an immediately noticable rising action. The track conveys a feeling of belongingness, emphasizing the importance of living in the present and finding happiness in what we have.
“New York” continues this message of gratitude and enjoying every moment, as life is constantly changing. Probably the most serene and melodic song on the album, it pairs this gratitude with longing for a person to call home. The track masterfully submerges us in a highly emotional soundscape, making us bask in the afterglow as it slowly fades to an end.
“The Life” starts out with a trance-like atmosphere, evolving into a piece of music that heavily reflects on life and what we make of it. It goes into how life changes us and that we should take it into our own hands to live the life we dream of.
“Pressure” is an anthem of resilience, resisting the pressure life puts on us. It proves that we can thrive despite all the hardships we encounter along the way. The song is a testament to our inner strength and ability to resist the pressure, never falling to our knees.
“Fire / Desire” deals with feelings of uncertainty and longing. It describes the terror of one-sided love, when our mind is occupied with someone, making up scenarios that might never happen. The song hits hard with the struggle with the own emotions and the impossible task of denying what your heart calls for without losing your mind.
“Edge of the Earth” brings us a dreamlike love story, detailing once more the longing for love. This time the track has a more liberating air to it when compared to the rather burdensome situation the previous track presented us with. Although it remains ambiguous what is real and what is a dream, going on the journey that is “Edge of the Earth” is a pure bliss.
“Standing at the Gates” instantly enchants us with beautifully melodic vocals, coupled with a melancholic story of loneliness that offers a spark of hope in the end. The person described gathers her strength to find a way out of this loneliness and while it take a while until things get better, the song’s protagonist is willing to be there for her.
As the title of the second-to-last song on the album “Belong” suggests, it thematically deals once again with the topic of belongingness. Sonically, the track takes a more experimental approach, intriguingly utilizing a screeching violin, paired with a catchy beat and vivid synths. It celebrates love and how it brings us happiness like nothing else can.
The finale of the album, “Exhale,” beautifully wraps up this breathtaking journey, sending us off with a message of hope and love. It tells us that love outlasts everything and that it wins in the end. Coupled with divine vocals and otherworldly synths, “Exhale” is a worthy closing act for what might be RÜFÜS DU SOL’s most heartfelt production yet.
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