Goth Duo | Raudiver: Leave Before Dark (Geodesic Records / 13 September 2024)

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Goth Duo
Raudiver: Leave Before Dark
(Geodesic Records / 13 September 2024)

Synth-heavy danceable beats mix with ethereal vocals to create the signature sound of Raudiver. The duo of Lauren Villarreal and Charles Eddy are a married couple based in Houston, and in Leave Before Dark, they explore the range of goth, darkwave and shoegaze, with a dive into post punk. 

Raudiver album cover

The results are earworm worthy, from the hypnotic beats of Leave (which exorts its listeners, If you love her, Leave...) to the spookier vibe of songs like Mary Tombs, and the moody Find a Heaven.

It's territory well suited to Lauren's vocals, which emerge as fluid and expressive even after the post production. She can range from a sweet high range to a darker lower end with just the right sensibility for this kind of music.

The vocals might take the spotlight, but underneath, attention is paid to the music too. Both are credited with playing synths and programming, and they create multi-layered soundscapes - most evident in the instrumental Interlude. 

A highlight for me was No Sun Rising, which ventures into experimental territory. Spoken word combines with vocal flourishes over a malleable track of beats and sounds. It's atmospheric and effective.

The duo's name comes as an homage to the work of parapsychologist and writer Konstantins Raudive, who wrote the definitive book on the phenomenon known as EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon). If you've seen the horror movie, it's the theory that the voices of the dead can be picked up by a radio frequency. 

Goth seems like a limiting term for the imaginative electronic pop created by this talented duo.

Personnel: Lauren Villarreal Eddy – Vocals, lyrics, synths, guitar, programming, and production; Charles Eddy – Synths, guitar, programming, production

Tracklist:

  • Leave
  • Mary Tombs
  • True Faith
  • Find a Heaven
  • Interlude
  • Cold Calling
  • No Sun Rising
  • If I Should Wake
  • Razor Wire
  • Now You Play to Win
  • Bleach

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