REVIEW There are a lot of bands out there who fell under the influence of Creation Records and Darla Records back in the day. There are just as many, if not more, who are influenced by them today. Among them we find Revolution Above Disorder, a Dubliner stranded on Canada’s West coast, so to speak, where the flavour of Vancouver’s cityscape may very well have a subliminal (if not plainly evident) impact on the dark cold and awesome prism through which he channels the better elements of such bands as The Jesus and Mary Chain, Spiritualized, Lush and Catherine Wheel, to name just a few artists that come to mind when listening to Revolution’s debut single, called – ‘Illuminate’.
Let’s backtrack a bit, as we’ve practically reviewed the single before even telling you about the artists. Revolution Above Disorder is the solo moniker of multi-instrumentalist Stephen Nicholas White a.k.a. Stevie Moonboots. Revolution Above Disorder makes electronic-tinged post-punk / electro-laden gazey indie rock with a raw underbelly. Over the years, White has been involved with numerous other projectgs, including The Orange Kyte, House of Dolls, The Subterranean Satellite Band and Magic Shoppe.
‘Illuminate’ is the original version previewing this 3-track release. This is guitar-based rock augmented by synths, drum machines and heavily treated instrumentation with a spine of pure melody.
“Illuminate’ is the song that kick started Revolution Above Disorder. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I’d just come off a European tour with Magic Shoppe and I found myself having to cancel scheduled plans with The Orange Kyte. In my downtime I began to reevaluate where I was headed musically and I realized I’d become dissatisfied with what I’d been doing. As I searched through old demos from the past, some going back over a decade, I was excited to hear songs with real potential that either I’d abandoned or just plain forgotten about. I grew interested in the idea of this modern day version of myself collaborating with my chaotic and directionless former self. I wanted to finish what I’d started many years prior. ‘‘Illuminate’ was the first one I needed to record,” says Stephen Nicholas White.
“This was originally conceived in 2013, albeit with different lyrics. I changed the lyrics from a song of misery and self-pity to an optimistic song of enlightenment and transcendence. It’s a song about getting your shit together and overcoming your own bullshit. A call to arms of sorts as a reminder to dig deep when distraction and resistance come knocking. The first line is ‘Revolution above disorder, divinity over all else…’, it seemed appropriate to use Revolution Above Disorder as the name for the entire project after that.”
The video was directed and edited by Eliot Galán of Galán Films, a key creative (cinematographer, director, videographer, editor and colourist) in Vancouver’s film & tv industry, starring Analissa Longoria and Mat Durie.
The ‘Illuminate’ single was produced, mixed and mastered at Jacknife Sound by Jason Corbett of ACTORS. The track features ACTORS’ Shannon Hemmett and Kendall Wooding on backing vocals, and bandmate Adam Fink on drums, as well as Josiah Webb of Magic Shoppe on guitar.
‘lluminate (Delta Omega Remix)’ was remixed / produced by Delta Omega a.k.a. Conor Paxton (House of Dolls, Buffalo Sunn, The Brothers Movement) in Dublin, Ireland
As of September 21, ‘Illuminate’ will be available as an instant gratification track via Apple Music and Bandcamp. The 3-track ‘Illuminate’ single will be released digitally on October 22. In the meantime, you can pre-save it on Spotifyhttps://bit.ly/39dpFPP and pre-order it at revolutionabovedisorder.bandcamp.com
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