Austin-based artist Oliver Jordan enthralls with a darkly affecting sound across his new album Death Rodeo, traversing across realms of industrial rock, hypnotic gothic-folk introspection, and noise-pop intrigue. The enigmatic artist consistently crafts dynamic soundscapes — from the frenetic punk-rock pace of “New Smile” to the folk-ready mystique within “Black Butterfly.”
The album’s opening title track maneuvers within sludgy guitars and a grimy post-punk bass entrancement, set amidst alternations between debonair vocals and ardent calls. Aesthetical shades of Yves Tumor show in the delectably dark rock soundscape. The ensuing “Menticide” compels with a more psych-friendly twanginess, then evolving seamlessly into reflective acoustic strums and a warbled synth undercurrent. “Black Butterfly” also succeeds with the acoustic-set bolstering, complemented further by electric guitar jangling into an invigorating “fly,” vocal soaring.
Especially memorable is “Secret 13,” consuming quickly in its psych-folk backbone and warming synth additions. “I hope that you can feel me,” a yearning vocal disposition lets out, stirring into scratch-y guitar glimpses as the “here we go again,” uptick in vocal emotion arrives. Death Rodeo is a thoroughly enveloping success, full of stylish mystery, from Oliver Jordan.
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We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
