You miss Chromatics, I miss Chromatics, we all miss Chromatics. There’s nothing we can do. That group broke up messily in 2021, and I would not put money on them reuniting anytime soon. Singer Ruth Radelet went solo, covered Elliott Smith, and released the 2022 EP “The Other Side.” Now, she’s got a new collaboration with Robert Ascroft, who’s generally best-known as a photographer.
Robert Ascroft’s new song is called “Faded Photograph,” and I bet he knows all about that, given his line of work and all. Ascroft co-wrote the song with Ruth Radelet, and it’s a haunted psychedelic swirl that sounds like a less synthy version of the stuff that Radelet did with Chromatics. It’s very pretty, and it’s got a fun Ascroft-directed video that stars Radelet as a Barbarella-type B-movie queen. Check it out below.
“Faded Photograph” is out now on Hand Drawn Dracula. A Robert Ascroft album is coming this fall.
Hand Drawn Dracula is an indie record label based in Toronto, Canada. HDD Artists include Beliefs, Breeze, Chastity, Deliluh, Etiquette, Fake Palms, No Joy, Ora Cogan, Praises, Prince Josh, Sahara, Tallies, Tess Parks, Vallens, Young Guv and more…
California-based Robert Ascroft has a background in visual arts and music production, as well as being a classically trained guitarist. All those elements come into play on “Faded Photograph,” his collaboration with Chromatics’ synthwave siren Ruth Radelet.
The Italo-sci-fi feel of the accompanying video is just sublime. It’s also very much in keeping with the intoxicating fusion of synthwave, classic 60s pop, and southern gothic sensibilities that makes “Faded Photograph” the perfect accompaniment for the smoky, wistful tones of Ruth Radelet. If your old family Kodak could sing of days gone by, it would probably sound like this.
“Faded Photograph” is out now via Hand Drawn Dracula and is a taster for an album set for release later this year. The track is streaming everywhere and can be downloaded on Bandcamp.
Oh, and be sure to check out Ascroft’s website or his Instagram feed where you can learn about his work on shows like Dark Matter and The Handmaid’s Tale.
Ruth Radelet of Chromatics collaborated with Robert Ascroft on the new song “Faded Photograph,” which is available via Hand Drawn Dracula. The song is from the artist’s upcoming album, which is scheduled for release at the close of 2024.
Ascroft, a classically trained guitarist turned music producer, is better known for working alongside others in different artistic fields like directing, photography, and music production. In this work, he crafts complex and moving melodies that perfectly capture his cinematic narratives.
The new single features a dreamy synth-pop soundscape paired with reflective lyrics derived from Ascroft’s experience in the film business. Ascroft and Radelet give the song an ageless attraction, while the video channels vintage Sci-Fi elements to balance its nostalgic elegance.
Source: Hand Drawn Dracula, AnalogueTrash
