RIALTO formed as a six-piece in 1997 with the sole intention of making their place on this planet a necessary one. Naming themselves after the erstwhile picture-house chain, in those days they had two drummers and people banded words like "cinematic" and "filmic" around them . Even cleverer people compared them to Scott Walker, Phil Spector, John Barry or Brian Wilson but "you know... like pop". They wrote songs about disfunctional and obsessional love - the realm of the outsider - and when they released their eponymous debut album in 1998 there was predictable acclaim. "RIALTO" had huge ideals, even bigger choruses and three actual Top 40 singles. One of them, "Monday Morning:5.19", must go down as one of the great angst-love songs of al l time (along with "I'm Not In Love" and "Missing You" - don't laugh, peasant) although "Untouchable" runs it a close second. The latter's lament "I'll soak my skin in alcohol/Until I feel untouchable" is enough to make anyone feel invincible just for a moment. And it did. RIALTO and "RIALTO" had a chequered history around this time. The band were dropped by A Major Corp just before the release of their debut album, then signed to An Independent Label for its release, only to be dropped afterwards because The Same Independent Label was swallowed up by The Same Major Corp. This might sound like the plot of a film, except, of course, it isn't, it's merely the tale of ultimate triumph over adversity. People seem to think Rialto are all about melancholia but there's a huge strength evident in every song they write. Their history may be essential viewing and their songs essential listening but like Pulp before them, you could throw the fucking book at them and they'd only read it, shrug and write a better one. RIALTO sold a quarter of a million copies of their debut album worldwide and have spent the last year writing and recording the follow-up. In the year 2000 they have a new line-up which features Louis Eliot (vocals, guitar), Jonny Bull (guitar, keyboards, production), Julian Taylor (bass) and Pete Cuthbert (drums) and a more electronic sound that this new formation probably suggests. The new six track mini album "ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN" still sees Rialto chasing the white dream in the middle of a blue-eyed London night but, if anything, the world's a whole lot clearer. The lead, title track is a case in point, breathing with bitter-sweet confidence and opening with the line "They tried to kill us off" before reassuring us that this is "nowhere near the final curtain". You just know they were "born to shine/And thrill like supernova" but at least they have the good grace to tell us anyway. "Girl On A Train", which follows, shows how much Rialto have changed: this is New Order territory where Rialto grab all they can get and never even ask your name. After this "The Car That Took My Love Away" is pure, sad drama, more electronic drums and paddy macaloonery and a tales-of-the-unexpected, "together/hell-for-leather" ride up the midnight motorway; and even better is (there) "Anyone Out There?" , real-life alienation disguised as space oddity where we know we're really "standing alone in a crowded room" not contemplating some inter-planetary fantasy. The LP closes with "Someone That She Used To Know" which is sublime and "Russian Doll" which could be off "Blah Blah Blah" or "Lodger" and is just... impenetrable. Behind their painted shells, indeed. RIALTO will be releasing the "ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN" mini-album through gimmemusic.co.uk from September 25th 2000.
Rialto Music
Rialto Story
Louis Eliot
