Rialto's self-titled debut falls halfway between the brash melodicism of Brit-pop and the stately, symphonic chamber pop of such artists as Eric Matthews and the Divine Comedy. It's a heady mixture, to be sure, and there are times when the entire enterprise collapses on the weight of its own ambitions. Still, there's something to be said for a debut that harbors such ambitions, and when everything does come together, Rialto's sense of style and song is enthralling, and that's what makes this such a promising debut. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Jon Bull (Engineer), Jonny Bull (Producer), Toby Hounsham (Keyboards), Jon Bull (Guitar), Julian Taylor (Bass), Anthony Christmas (Drums), Julian Taylor (Trumpet), Jon Bull (Programming), Louis Eliot (Vocals), Mike Drake (Mixing), Julian Taylor (Vocals (Background)), Phil Vinall (Mixing), Jon Bull (Producer), Stephen Hague (Producer), Louis Eliot (Guitar), Stephen Hague (Mixing), Tim Bret Day (Photography), Stephen Harris (Engineer), Jon Bull (Vocals (Background)), Johnny Bull (Engineer), Pete Cuthbert (Drums)
Louis Elliot and Jonny Bull began their Brit-pop ventures in fall 1991 under the guise of Kinky Machine. With a dedicated, albeit small cult following, they broke into the U.K. Top Ten in 1992 and added a Manic Street Preachers tour to their credentials. 1993 brought a debut album and a 1995 sophomore effort, Bent; however, their style decreased in rarity as acts like Elastica exploded internationally. This, fueled by management and label woes, caused Kinky Machine to dissipate. Early in 1997 Bull and Elliot, along with the latter's old friend and bassist Julian Taylor, drummer Pete Cuthbert, and Toby Hounsham, who responded to an advertisement placed in the Melody Maker, rejoined and formed Rialto. Their unusual name is traced back to a local U.K. (now bankrupt) theater chain. This cinematic reference is consistent with Elliot's fascination with films, soundtracks and scores, as they admit to being heavily influenced by cinema. They cite industry giants such as Elvis Costello, Lloyd Cole, Leonard Cohen, Elliot Smith, Brian Wilson, Ennio Morricone and John Barry as influences and objects of their musical admiration.
Second drummer Anthony Christmas is a major contributor to this band's unusual sound, following the musical footsteps of Phil Spector and Adam and the Ants with two simultaneous, equi-balanced drummers. Given an eight-track home studio by their recording company, they emerged late in 1997 (under Bull's production talents and Elliot's lyrical guidance) with a new, innovative signature sound and contagious tunes chock full of script-like, empathetic tales.
In 1997 they produced their first singles, "When We're Together" and "Untouchable." The latter was re-released in January 1998; it quickly penetrated the Top 20 and was soon accompanied by their next single, "Dream Another Dream." Despite their proven success and much anticipated arrival of their self-titled debut album, East-West Records dropped them. China Records, the label under which Morcheeba rose to fame, released Rialto's album in July 1998. The six-track Girl on a Train followed two years later, receiving accolades from NME and Q. By the time Rialto gathered to make a second album, Hounsham had left the group. Rialto was now a four-piece and they spent most of 2001 perfecting electronic sounds for Night on Earth, which was issued in March 2002. ~ Heidi Karrenbauer, All Music Guide
Louis Eliot
Jonny Bull
Julian Taylor
Pete Cuthbert
Toby Hounsham
Anthony Christmas
Rialto were a Britpopband of the late 1990s. They released their self-titled debut album in 1998, and Night on Earth in 2002. Their most famous single was their debut, "Monday Morning 5:19", however "Untouchable" charted higher at number 20 in the UK Singles Chart.[1]
Rialto grew from the ashes of the band Kinky Machine, which featured singerLouis Eliot and guitarist Jonny Bull. Kinky Machine has released two albums, their self-titled debut in 1993 (Oxygen/MCA Records) and Bent in 1995.
In 1997 Bull and Elliot, along with the Julian Taylor, drummer Pete Cuthbert, and Toby Hounsham, rejoined and formed Rialto. Later that year they released their first singles, "When We're Together" and "Untouchable". The latter was re-released in January 1998 and cracked the Top 20 in the UKchart. Despite the anticipated arrival of their self-titled debut album, East West Records dropped them. Instead China Records released the band's debut album on July 13, 1998. The six-track Girl On A TrainEP followed two years later, receiving accolades from NME and Qmagazines. By the time Rialto gathered to make a second album, Hounsham and Christmas had left the group leaving them as a 4-piece. The band finally released their second (and final) album in March 2002; Night on Earth.
Post band activities
Following the band's split, Eliot released his solo debut, the Everybody Loves You When You're Dead EP in 2002, followed by his full-length debut Long Way Round (Iodine Records) in 2004.
