Rolo Tomassi

Released: May 24, 2010

Producer: Ariel Rechtshaid Diplo

Smashed glass proceedings
Wide open party wounds
Tasteless movers and shakers and candlestick makers
I've watched from afar
And I've led the processions
Of faint heart believers and sons of the night

What did you want to learn?
A scale of notes that could drown out the world
Or put off what's been on your mind?
Forever never seemed so long at the time
[Repeat]

Our sense of adventure only ever outweighed by these perfectly scripted desires
Such horror, mischief and desperate decadence, tall tales from the lips of liars
But when that beat drops, beat drops, beat drops, beat drops
Well I'm back to where I was before
I've been low (low), low (low), as low as I can go
But when I feel it, I'll still hit the floor

Pull up the flowers
[Repeat x2]

Oh my stars!
With scars, scabs and everything in between
How can this be?
Jaded but serene
[Repeat x3]

Named after the fictional character in Curtis Hanson’s L.A. Confidential, Rolo Tomassi’s uncompromising sound incorporates an eclectic blend of math-hardcore, acid-jazz, and progressive punk. Influenced by U.S. metallers Converge, prog rockers King Crimson, and jazz saxophonist John Coltrane, lead singer Eva Spence, her brother, keyboardist James Spence, guitarist Joe Nicholson, bassist Joseph Thorpe, and drummer Edward Dutton formed the band in Sheffield in 2005.

A regular fixture on their local rock circuit, they released various self-funded EPs through indie label Holy Roar before signing to Hassle Records in 2008. In the same year, they performed at Download Festival, supported Gallows and Throats on their U.K. tours, and released their debut album, Hysterics. In 2010, they recorded their follow-up, Cosmology, with M.I.A. producer Diplo, collaborated with Biffy Clyro for a performance on Channel 4, and released a compilation, Eternal Youth, featuring 36 previously unreleased tracks, which saw release on their own label, Destination Moon.

2012 saw the departure of both Nicholson and Thorpe, who were replaced by Chris Crayford (No Coast) and Nathan Fairweather (Brontide) in time for their third album, Astraea, which saw release later the same year. After a year of touring the band began writing for their fourth studio album, 2015’s Grievances, which took on an even heavier tone than previous records. After its release, they followed a similar pattern of touring and writing for two years before heading back to the studio to record their fifth full-length. Time Will Die and Love Will Bury it saw release in 2018, this time aiming for a more optimistic and colourful approach (itunes.apple.com).

more tracks from the album

Cosmology

From the album

Cosmology (2010)

Rolo Tomassi popular songs

Party WoundsRolo Tomassi

Rolo Tomassi

Cosmology