December 1, 2010

Record Review: Michael Rault

Michael Rault - Ma-Me-O 4/5


Stick a quarter in the jukebox and you'd expect to find Dusty Springfield, Herman's Hermits or The Drifters, but Edmonton's Michael Rault like his Brit pop contemporaries Adele, and Duffy could fit seamlessly into the R&B - pop music of that bygone era.

At just 20 years of age Rault's debut record, Ma-Me-O is a must listen for any music enthusiast. It's lo-fi asthetic, Rault's grainy vocals, and songs ripe with hooks infused with that R&B-pop sound synonymous with the 50s and 60s make for a great pop record full of retro spun tracks. Ma-Me-O is an energetic record fueled by loose, groovy tracks like 'The Things She Said' and 'Call Me On The Phone,' while Rault's more contemporary vision breathes new life into the genre like the nitty, gritty 'I Don't Need No Help Gettin' Down' or the more soulful 'It'll Hurt You, Too.' Rault appears to be a student of both the classics and contemporaries such as Beck.

Michael Rault does serious justice to a classic sound with his modern interpretation Ma-Me-O, made even more impressive given not only his age but that he all but nails it on his debut record, showcasing him as not only a talented musician but a singer/songwriter capable of making pop melodies that stand up against the classics. Having recently completed touring along side Bedouin Soundclash and Charlie Winston, it's very likely there will be more from of Michael Rault to come.


Lay Right Down And Die by Michael Rault by Shattered Vinyl

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