Riton--Hammer of Thor

Riton – the French term for ‘Henry,’ as in Henry Smithson – provides Tiefschwarz’s Souvenir label their third release in "Hammer of Thor." Smithson, who has released and remixed music on a slew of labels such as Grand Central, Get Physical, and Klang, is currently working on his third album which will represent a change in Riton’s music. Stepping away from the contemporary world of electronica, Smithson will instead focus his musical talent on 1970’s German Kosmische.

In a way then, "Hammer of Thor" is a stepping stone towards this eventual destination. A bit of rave and a bit of dance-floor grooves, Riton’s first release with Souvenir is a quick-n-dirty three song glimpse at what Smithson is experimenting with…and what we can expect in the future.

The opening namesake track of the release is a synth-infested 9 minute groove. Evolving its way from the simplest of origins, a trumpet-like electronic melody guides your way through a world of blips, beeps, and grinding drumbeats. While the trumpet-like effect make slice a bit too hard into the eardrum, the modest beat driving the listener along through the song is very catchy and will get even the most stagnant foot moving.

Almost sensing this, the Roman Flugel remix of Hammer of Thor distributes the trumpet effects throughout the song, and putting in more of the deliciously drum-snaps and beats and using the other effects as breaks in the action. Both versions of the track are wonderful raves that would get any dance-floor moving, but the dispersion of the less-ample effects in the Flugel version seem more pop-oriented.

Closing out the release, Cocks and Noodles is a shorter track with a more mellow traditional beat, but still one that’s well-defined and great to move to. Quieter and less drastic, Cocks and Noodles reveals that Riton is still hanging on to this previous influences while gasping out for new territory. "Hammer of Thor" is a transitional piece that finds an artist moving on to new musical ground, while still keeping a foot in familiar sounds.

(Published at 365Mag.com)