I hate Tool. People that write technical music for the sake of being technical are like writers that pad out heartless prose with unnecessary adjectives. Far from disguising a lack of passion, it throws it into starker relief.
James Spence seems to agree. “It has certainly never been my aim to make technical music for the sake of it. I think it completely loses soul if that’s all that’s driving it. I’d say it was more a by-product of our tastes.
“It’s amazing how groove-laden beats that are in 7/4 and 5/4, as an example, can be. I mean, Battles, one of the most technically proficient bands out there had their music used for an advert to sell cars and that’s ridiculous. There’s no reason that technical music has to alienate people.”
Indeed, while one suspects that Rolo Tomassi have alienated a fair few unsuspecting audience members (particularly, perhaps, on their recent stint supporting the now rather U2-esque Biffy Clyro), their own ferociously accomplished brand of hardcore has been taken to the hearts of many. Some of those new fans may be surprising; Spence and co will see their sophomore record, Cosmology, released on Monday – produced by none other than Diplo, the baile-obsessed Philadelphia DJ.
Diplo, whose most recent work includes a track from the latest Snoop Dogg offering, at first seems like an odd choice of collaborator – particularly given that his background is one in which the producer takes more of a hand in the writing process. Spence says there were learning curves all round.
“He said it was a new experience for him. Like you’re saying, Diplo is usually involved from the writing process and we went into the studio with a fully written album.
“His role as a producer was more in terms of putting the team together to make the album, provide a good working environment and help with the vocals when it came to Eva’s singing parts.”
This new way of working has yielded Rolo Tomassi’s best output yet. Cosmology is an exercise in control. A furious, seething record it no doubt is, but it is also finely judged, cohesive – and fully-formed in a way that debut Hysterics perhaps was not.
This cohesiveness was no accident. “We tried to do that with Hysterics but didn’t pull it off how we wanted to. At the time we were all really happy with that record but looking at it now it’s flawed. We were able to correct all our mistakes with Cosmology.”
It is that analytical approach, supported by an already impressive back catalogue, that will help ensure Rolo Tomassi take their place at the forefront of British hardcore – and, ultimately, prove themselves as one of the country’s most inventive and forward-thinking bands, regardless of genre.
In the meantime, the summer will see Spence and the band play their biggest ever headline show, and systematically destroy festival stages across the country. And then? “I’d like to have a go at doing a concept album.”
Rolo Tomassi are just getting started.
Cosmology is out on Monday through Hassle. Rolo Tomassi play Camden Underworld on 28 May.
