Face Time:  Ra Ra Riot

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By John Norris

It’s taken a bit (well, not as long as say, Broken Social Scene or Autolux) but the affable chamber pop sextet from Syracuse, now based in Brooklyn, have finally returned with its second full length, entitled The Orchard. And we couldn’t be happier. We’re also happy that for this week’s Face Time we managed to snag some time with one third of the Ra Ra’s: front man Wes Miles and violinist Rebecca Zeller.

Folks are saying that The Orchard is a softer take on the RRR sound, and we get Wes and Becca’s take on that observation, as well as the story behind the peach orchard where the band worked on the record and which led to an album and song title.  We talk “Too Dramatic”, a standout track, the next single, and the Euro-poppiest that the band has ever sounded, as well as first single, the unusually peppy, driving “Boy” – and you’ll get to see that song’s new cat-friendly music video that we learn was inspired by Murakami’s “Kafka on the Shore”.

We also discuss their pals Vampire Weekend, a band to which RRR have been compared and contrasted enough over the years (the similarities have frankly been exaggerated) that it’s probably gotten vexing, though they could not be happier for the Columbia alums’ mega-success. And speaking of VW - what’s the future for Wes’ memorable synth pop collaboration with Rostam, 2009’s Discovery?  We try and get an answer to that as well.  It’s been too long away for Ra Ra Riot, so celebrate their return with this week’s Face Time on Noisevox.  

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