With the release of a now sold-out 12,” and their Young Ones EP, the London-based duo Formation, comprised of siblings Will and Matt Rinson quickly exploded into the UK electro pop scene; in fact, the duo’s sound has been compared favorably to LCD Soundsystem, Liquid Liquid and Arthur Russell — and over the past year, the duo have played at a number of festivals including Latitude, Bestival, The Great Escape, Field Day, Midi Festival and Calvi On The Rocks in Corsica.
The duo’s most recent EP, Under the Rocks produced by renowned Brighton-based house music producer Leon Vynehall was released last month and reportedly has the duo expanded upon the sound that has won them attention across the blogosphere. The EP’s slinky, latest single “Love,” pairs layers of slowly cascading synths and swirling electronics, stuttering drum programming and sinuous bass lines with vocals that express a complex array of ironically detached observation, neurotic self-awareness and self-obsession and earnestness in a song that sounds as though it draws from LCD Soundsystem’s Sound of Silver and This Is Happening but with an even more contemporary feel — as if filtered though Twitter feeds.
The recently released video for “Love” is shot in a gorgeously, cinematic black and white and features members of the band, as well as others getting tattooed by a tattoo artist — suggesting that love can be painful yet beautiful.
The band recently released another single off the EP,”Control,” which is now streaming HERE. As with the rest of the Under The Tracks EP, “Control” is the result of Formation’s first collaboration with Brighton’s innovative house producer Leon Vynehall. The track strips Formation’s sound back to its inventive core with a jam-orientated groove which blends pulsating bass, cowbell-infused rhythms and Will’s insouciant vocal delivery.
“Working with Leon Vynehall has added another layer of inspiration to what we’re doing, bouncing ideas off each other and working in a free and improvised way, laying down what feels good and always surprising each other,” says Matt Ritson.
Under The Tracks further consolidates Formation as one of the most exciting new talents to emerge this year. The EP has already been previewed by the lead track “All The Rest Is Noise”. Premiered by Zane Lowe as his “World Record” on BEATS 1, “All The Rest Is Noise” finds Formation harnessing their dual talents for insistent pop hooks and groove-based instrumental loops into their most immediately memorable moment to date. It carries the defiant message that you shouldn’t suffer alone, shouldn’t listen to those negative voices and shouldn’t put yourself down.
The EP is completed by the title track, which drops the tempo as piano, cowbell and Will Ritson’s increasingly energized vocals flow together into a haze of rhythms, and “Love” which layers upwards into waves of new disco with a defiant lyrical message about social alienation and a call for love and solidarity between all people.
Will and Matt Ritson started Formation in May 2013. Their first release, a now sold-out white label 12″, was issued in the summer of 2014 with close friend Jonny Tams on production duties. MENO Records subsequently jumped on board to issue their second EP Young Ones, followed up by the single “Hangin”. The band are currently working on their debut album set for release in 2016.
Formation have continued to enthrall audiences with their energetic and infectious live performances. Highlights over the summer have included sets at Latitude, Bestival, The Great Escape, Field Day, Midi Festival and Calvi On The Rocks in Corsica. Stay tuned for US dates in the new year.
