rodez

Named after a town in the south west of France that is home to one of the more notorious asylums of the twentieth century, Rodez are a mystical and schizophrenic prospect. Melody and pop nous intertwine with threads of darkness tension. Influenced as much by the writings of those balanced between genius and madness as they are by widescreen guitar pop, the sound of Rodez is at once beautiful and beguiling, not unlike the fine line between obsession and desire ...
Formed in 2002 forensic philosopher Jesus Hydes, psychotic poet D.H. Valentine and modulation expert MK Lilley, Rodez dug tunnels across southwest London until they encountered the beautiful young Evi Vine whose honey tones led them into the light. Unfied and perplexed by experimental synthesist Robert James Reng they stumbled on, curbed only by internal torment.
At the apogee of their strength, Jesus abandoned them for a mission of self discovery in the Balkan mountains. In a state of shock they blended into their wilful submission trascendental actor, Andrew Fraser. Forward they pushed until their moment out of complete shadow arrived. Baulked by the design and discovery of pioneering modern thought, they faltered and fell dead into the night.
As with all dark things, however, they never really die, they merely fade back into the spaces from whence they came. Evi Vine's spectacular star in the ascendent, with the young Valentine at her side. The Rodez sleeps some, but stirs every now and then, a beast not really tamed.
Their first single, released in 2005 is still available, featuring the tracks 'Under the Dark Star,' 'I am Fear,' 'Angels Never Sleep' and 'The Need.' It's available on CD for the bargain price of £4 plus £1 p&p anywhere in the world and beyond. Variously described as earth shattering intellectual pop (Logo Magazine) and utterly beautiful (Jo Whiley, XFM) it is a hidden gem ... click on the button below to get a copy.
A note: the artwork you see in the background is the cover to the EP, which was drawn by the god-like hand of Mr. David Lupton .