Ry Welch’s seminal single, The Moment of Disappearance, nestled within his recently remastered LP, Hostile Lazarus, could easily be dismissed as an installation of pure augmented obscurity, but if you lean in a little deeper into the fiercely thematic dualistic beauty within the juxtaposition of the euphonic and abrasive elements, the genius of Ry Welch becomes evident.
Accordant elements bleed from synthesised harmonies, echoing the 60s psych-pop bliss of the Beach Boys and the Zombies, while the frenetic insanity allows you to imagine the sonic love child of Fantomas, Glen Branca, and ELO. The cultivated yet chaotically unhinged production supports a narrative epic, inviting listeners on an unmissable saga through the proclivities of an unfiltered erratic mind.
Despite his niche sound, Welch has garnered a loyal following that reveres his uniquely animated sonic signature born from unbounded creative vision. Given the exhilaration in The Moment of Disappearance, it is easy to see why.
Born in Austin, Texas, and later honing his craft in Northern Virginia, Welch initiated himself into the music industry by amassing multi-instrumentalist stripes at the age of five. His teenage years saw the formation of his first band, laying the groundwork for a career marked by an unyielding dedication to musical innovation.
Welch’s eclectic background includes studying jazz and classical bass at VCU, performing jazz in the DC area, and expanding his horizons at the New England Conservatory, where he engaged with luminaries such as John Cage and Elliott Carter. His versatile career spans from composing jingles in New York City to performing with regional jam bands in Virginia, and now, pushing the boundaries of avant-garde production in Los Angeles.
The 2024 remaster of Hostile Lazarus dropped on July 15 and is available to stream on Spotify.
Review by Amelia Vandergast