Dark Colour

It was a few years back on holiday with my family on the Monterey Peninsula that I first was introduced to Dark Colour. There was a buzz and a fuss being made over a controversial first album Memories, with new tracks that would later comprise the recent released Prisoner floating about in different stages of production. I began playing “Burn it Down”, and “Be Your Man” for friends who had an educated mind on what an electronic composed track should be, what it could be, and what it could express beyond the stereotypes of the EDM mills. In my correspondences with frontman Randall Rigdon Jr., we began to address the inherent intricacies and misconceptions of the electronic medium coupled with the potential of limitless possibility. Our interview truly began when I made a cheeky comparison to Dark Colour picking up where Bryan Ferry left off with Roxy Music. This opened up a discussion on Randall’s approach of expression through the DIY currents and underground channels of home-bedroom-or-rec-room-recorded dance. - Impose Magazine

On se méfie toujours quand un électronicien remplace soudain son fidèle sampler par des musiciens, qui entrent en gougnafiers mercenaires dans ses chansons, mettent les pieds sur la table et fument ses cigares. Mais visiblement, Randall Rigdon (Dark Colour pour son passeport américain) a dirigé les hommes avec la même poigne souple qu’il réservait aux machines, donnant à sa musique, autrefois rêveuse et floue comme celle de Passion Pit, une dynamique et une ferveur inédites. Ce qui ne l’empêche pas de continuer à rêvasser, entre deux feux d’artifices. - lesinrocks (French)

Whole spectrum of colors is projected onto the stage as a strange, off-rhythm beat plays. Then drums kick in and datamoshing visuals—“glitch art”— begin to warp digital images around the band members in a rainbow of chaos.

This is the scene that local band Dark Colour sets for its live shows, captivating its audience both visually and musically. - The News Record

On Prisoner, Dark Colour makes digital music with an analog heart, instantly catchy Electro Art Pop that never panders and frequently surprises. - Cincinnati CityBeat

Dark Colour is an indietronic, alternative dance act. Crafted and fronted by songwriter Randall Rigdon Jr, with Coleman Williams on guitar, Sean Kelley on bass, and Joesph Sparough on drums.

The band recently recorded some tracks with Jacob and Isaac of Healing Power (Pomegranates) back in September at their studio (Sabbath Recording) and are eager to get them in your ears!

Check out the new single, “Animal”! - Cincymusic.com

As the man behind Dark Colour, Randall Rigdon excels at electronic music. That much is clear. Some tracks feature a dance hall sound while others are softer electro pop, so it’s hard to specify exactly how Dark Colour should be categorized. Then again, who cares? When the electronic trance is this smooth, we’re in either way. - Stereo Subversion

The dead of winter is no fun, especially when you’re dealing with massive blizzards, chilling temperatures, and the Giants out of the playoffs. Despite the lineups and rumors, festivals seem so far away and our next big holiday is what? President’s Day? That’s no fun.

This is where our Friday Mixtape comes in. New music always kicks ass, but it’s even better when fending off the winter blues. Christmas is 11 months away? Psshh… check out new music from Bright Eyes, Social Distortion, and The Radio Dept. instead. Plus, we have a wonderful assortment of covers, compliments of Cover Me.

See, guys, it’s not all that bad.

Something to CHECK OUT:

“Palm Aire” by Bikini
“Be Around” by DARK COLOUR
“Jesus Got A Gun” by Duke Garwood
“Goodnight Company” by Jane Lui
“Billy Cruz” by Metal Mother
“Mind” by Range Rover
“Ambergris” by Snowblink
“Peripheral Visionaries” by Young Galaxy - Consequence of Sound

Twenty-year-old Cincinnati native Randall Rigdon is the man behind the curtain of Dark Colour, an intriguing new electro-synth pop outfit who aim to get your butt onto the dance floor with “Memories.” Though he employs a full backing band on stage, Rigdon handles everything himself on the 10-track release and the youngster is up to the task.

There are plenty of goodies to be found here, including “Don’t Let It Stop,” “Like an Avalanche,” “In Front of Me,” “Amongst the Skies,” “Forget It All” and “Coming Back,” as Dark Colour keep the beats thumping and the synthesizers charged. Even if you don’t normally go for electronic pop, I urge you to make some happy “Memories.” - The Daily News PA

It’s amazing that at such a young age someone can have such purpose and drive. And for bedroom studio mastermind Randall Rigdon, who is now only 20 years old but has been writing, recording and playing for years, his solo project Dark Colour is just getting started. Showcasing a 10-track dance album for his debut Memories (out February 2011 and available on iTunes here), the solo, Cincinnati-based electronic / pop act just released the track “Don’t Let It Stop” along with a corresponding video.

His music is self-described as featuring “warming synths, compelling vocals, hard-hitting beats, and an overwhelming sense of chaos…an uncontrollable pandemonium that’s reminiscent of 70s disco and 80s synthrock.” And that chaos he hopes to translate into a live show is done so thru the support of a full backing band, as Rigdon is accompanied by Peter Muller (Guitar) Rico Reyes (Bass) and Josh Alsip (Drums) when performing live.

Take a listen and look below – “Don’t Let It Stop” will definitely make it onto my “Spring getting ready for Summer rooftops dance party” playlist. - forthebeat

Meet Dark Colour (aka Randall Rigdon) from Cincinnati, OH (what's up with the U in Colour?). He makes retrofied dance music with an embedded loyalty to pop songwriting. His debut, Memories, comes out next month.

We don't have a whole lot of information about Rigdon, but his single from the forthcoming debut, "Be Around," is a solid introduction. In just over two minutes, Rigdon shows off his affinity for wavy synth keyboards and emotive, energized vocals. The lyrics are straightforward and at times, highlighted by comically simplistic rhymes. But it's the simplicity that really makes the song appealing. Rigdon has a good sense of pop structure and the song builds nicely within those confines. Listen and download "Be Around" below.

Definitely worth keeping an eye on Dark Colour. Memories comes out on February 15th, available on iTunes and Amazon. More details when they're out there. - In Your Speakers