About

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RAF AND O

With a background steeped in the avant-guard, South-East London based duo Raf and O AKA Raf Mantelli and O Richard Smith have marked out their critically acclaimed song and sound world since 2008 with the release of five full length albums (latest album We Are Stars).
Purveyors of cinematic and theatrical art-pop, they’ve been praised by The Quietus, FACT, Electronic Sound amongst many for their emotional depth of songwriting and intensity of performance with their supporters seeing the likes of Mike Garson (David Bowie’s pianist/ long-term collaborator) eulogising Raf and O for their unique interpretation of Bowie’s Lady Grinning Soul. In 2014 ‘Time Machine’ was in the Top 10 albums of Joe Muggs (FACT), ‘Portal’ Launch made John Clarkson’s 2016 gig of the year (Pennyblackmusic) and in 2019 Raf and O released ‘The Space Between Nothing And Desire’, earning accolades such as as sublime, astonishing, enthralling and irresistible. 
Sonic explorations have seen the pair setting music to Shakespeare, composing for theatre, performing highly regarded interpretations of David Bowie and Kate Bush songs and playing venues such as The Queen Elizabeth Hall, where they were special guests in Richard Strange’s production for William S. Burroughs Centenary and The Union Chapel where they were invited to celebrate Bowie’s life and work. Raf and O celebrated Bowie several times, including the remake of legendary Beckenham Free Festival and were featured on David Bowie Official.
Contributing tracks and remixes to releases including Mitra Music For Nepal alongside Ryuichi Sakamoto and Nick Cave, the pair have collaborated with Gagarin (Pere Ubu, Nico), Robert Logan (Grace Jones), Blk Tag, Kumo (Irmin Schmidt, Can) released a number of EPs and were remixed by pioneering Charles Hayward of This Heat fame.
In June 2023 Raf and O launched Constellation Club, with access to bespoke and exclusive items of merch, Raf’s original art and secret songs of the future.

We Are Stars is multi-faceted and cinematic in inspiration, reflecting our contemporary society flourishing and struggling simultaneously. Inspired by movies, life and stars, tinged in retro futuristic 50’s blues, edgy and anxiety ridden, upbeat, thoughtful and metaphoric, can be summarised as existential arty poetic visual pop for the 21st century.

“Framed in a retro futuristic backdrop of funky plucked guitar fragments and a swaying beat, scattered with Raf’s artful flights escapism, intersecting the solar system between Bowie and Kate Bush….. “Intoxicating, reflective, artistic and dramatic” GOD IS IN THE TV ZINE

“Raf and O have been purveyors of effervescent, avant-garde pop since 2008 … from apocalyptic, electronica-hued mini-symphonies to elegant, left-field David Bowie covers. ‘We Are Stars’ brings a sense of playfulness … Mischievous and bewitching”  ELECTRONIC SOUND 

“We Are Stars is an incredible album. Omnipresent throughout, there’s the angular, shredded and bended guitar of Scary Monsters era Robert Fripp and Carlos Alomar, and the strangely interesting progressions of the arty-pop and dress-up of that album. The titular song itself an alternative, stressful The Man Who Fell To Earth soundtrack, yet recalls the influence of Tricky and Portishead. Raf and O remain one of the most individual acts in the UK; true inheritors of Bowie and Bush’s legacy and spirit…….. “A spellbinding lamentable love song … sublime” MONOLITH COCKTAIL

“From the poignant to the provocative to the playful ‘The Space Between Nothing And Desire’ is wonderfully theatrical and, unless you’re made of stone, quite irresistible . It begins with ‘A Bow To Bowie’ an enthralling tribute to one of Raf & O’s main inspirations. The intensity is off the scale.” Push, ELECTRONIC SOUND

 “The excellent Time Machine represents the very antithesis of EDM – There is a butterfly, acoustic delicacy and yet also the deceptive, steel strength of spider silk in their complex weaving – Raf’s vocal ranges far and wide in her emotional and lyrical foragings” David Stubbs, THE QUIETUS

 “Superbohemian, super kooky – the sort of record that makes it feel like John Peel is still alive”
Joe Muggs, FACT Magazine

“Sublime in execution, subtle but with a real depth and levity, TSBNAD is an astonishing piece of new romantic, avant-theater pop and electronica that dares to unlock the mind and fathom emotion. Raf’s vocals are extraordinary: on the surface vulnerable and stark yet beneath lies a steely intensity that often whips, lashes and jolts. A masterclass of pulchritude magnificence” Dominic Valvona, MONOLITH COCKTAIL

 “Stark and otherworldly, a haunting ode, subtle swelling bricolage of ghostly synths, tumbling acoustic notes and a bass drum that thuds like a heartbeat throughout. While Raf’s almost otherworldly almost jazz-like vocals spiral across the upper register with echoes of Kate Bush at her most avant-garde” Bill Cummings, GOD IS IN THE TV ZINE

“Raf and O are totally unique” John Clarkson, PENNYBLACKMUSIC

Raf and O, I believe belong to that select group of artists who create not only great music, but also a universe in which that music can live and breathe” ARTMUSELONDON

“Raf and O continue to charm and intrigue with their distinctive, avant-pop songs, which mix acoustic and processed electronic sounds”  Sharon O’ Connell, METRO.

Raf and O live at Starman Bowie Celebration, Union Chapel

 

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  • Archives

  • WE ARE STARS - OUT NOW
    BUY CD AND DIGITAL ALBUM

  • STILL SITTING IN OUR TIME MACHINES
    (Official Video)

  • “Framed in a retro futuristic backdrop of funky plucked guitar fragments and a swaying beat, scattered with Raf’s artful flights escapism, intersecting the solar system between Bowie and Kate Bush”
    GOD IS IN THE TV ZINE

  • “Raf and O have been purveyors of effervescent, avant-garde pop since 2008 … from apocalyptic, electronica-hued mini-symphonies to elegant, left-field David Bowie covers. ‘We Are Stars’ brings a sense of playfulness … Mischievous and bewitching”  ELECTRONIC SOUND 

  • “We Are Stars is an incredible album. Omnipresent throughout, there’s the angular, shredded and bended guitar of Scary Monsters era Robert Fripp and Carlos Alomar, and the strangely interesting progressions of the arty-pop and dress-up of that album. The titular song itself an alternative, stressful The Man Who Fell To Earth soundtrack, yet recalls the influence of Tricky and Portishead. Raf and O remain one of the most individual acts in the UK; true inheritors of Bowie and Bush’s legacy and spirit.”
    MONOLITH COCKTAIL

  • "This is the most exquisite album yet from Raf and O, who I believe belong to that select group of artists who create not only great music, but also a universe in which that music can live and breathe….from the soulful glam-swagger of ‘Still Sitting in our Time Machines’, through the indie-folk vocal acrobatics of ‘Andy under Stars’ and torch-song delicacy of the title track, to the frenetic 80s synth onslaught of ‘Every Time It’s Bleak, We Dance’…One of the album’s key tracks, ‘Tommy Newton’ follows. You may remember this name as David Bowie’s character in the SF masterpiece ‘The Man Who Fell to Earth – in the song Raf gives the perspective of Newton’s lover Mary-Lou. As the song closes, she describes Newton as “an alien / lost into our world”, tapping into not only the film character but evoking Bowie himself, her voice drifting over an aptly-chosen cyclic guitar motif….The gorgeous closer, ‘Waterloo’ has the stately progression of a rock ‘n’ roll era ballad, bowed double-bass and treated, wordless backing vocals cradling a hopeful conclusion, as if the past-honouring and future-seeking characteristics of the duo’s music have come to an understanding…It also feels right that the record reflects Raf and O’s twin inspirations – Bowie and Bush – in surprising and creative ways……I use the word ‘inspiration’ deliberately – rather than ‘influence’, say – because it’s not as if Raf and O simply sound like either Bowie or Bush. As I said, they’ve long sounded like no-one but themselves. It’s what they take from them in attitude, fearlessness: the way Raf’s voice swoops and soars without apparent boundaries"
    ARTMUSELONDON

  • "A hyper-colourful ride of joyously exotic sounds and idiosyncratic melodies which somehow melt together to make a gleaming, strident Art Pop whole. Abstract melodies morph seamlessly into sweet, emotionally thrilling chord shapes you NEVER see coming. Pop-xotica? Supernatural Folk? Post Prog Punk? One of 23's finest"
    THE SOAP COMPANY

  • THE SPACE BETWEEN
    NOTHING AND DESIRE

    BUY CD Album HERE

    BUY DIGITAL HERE

    “The intensity is off the scale. It begins with ‘A Bow To Bowie’ an enthralling tribute to one of Raf & O’s main inspirations.. while the charming ‘Underwater Blue’ will go down in pop history as the track that launched the snorkelectro scene..From the poignant to the provocative to the playful ‘The Space Between Nothing And Desire’ is wonderfully theatrical and, unless you’re made of stone, quite irresistible.”

    ELECTRONIC SOUND

    “Stark and otherworldly, a haunting ode, subtle swelling bricolage of ghostly synths, tumbling acoustic notes and a bass drum that thuds like a heartbeat throughout. While Raf’s almost otherworldly almost jazz-like vocals spiral across the upper register with echoes of Kate Bush at her most avant-garde”

    GOD IS IN THE TV ZINE

    “This is a strange and luscious album”

    JOE MUGGS

    “A defiantly original act, one which one can listen to time over and still find something new, and with ‘The Space Between Nothing and Desire’ they have created an album that is as daring as it is compelling”

    PENNYBLACKMUSIC

    “Sublime in execution, subtle but with a real depth and levity, TSBNAD is an astonishing piece of new romantic, avant-theater pop and electronica that dares to unlock the mind and fathom emotion..a masterclass of pulchritude magnificence. Imbued by both the musicality and spirit of David Bowie, Scott Walker, David Sylvian (both as a solo artist and with the fey romantics Japan), Kate Bush and in their most avant-garde mode, Bjork, the South London based duo of Raf (Raf Mantelli) and O (Richard Smith) occupy the perimeters of alternative art-rock and experimental electronica as the true inheritors of those cerebral inspirations”

    MONOLITH COCKTAIL

    “An audio voyage that seems to bridge the gap between cosmos and earth as the record develops.’A Bow to Bowie’ gazes explicitly heavenward, combining respectful, open sincerity with sheer intelligence and wit, absorbing musical and lyrical references to the song’s subject into a structure all their own. The title track is almost a battery-operated torch song, Raf’s sensual, almost swinging vocal conjuring up a kind of electronic chanson.”

    ADRIAN SPECS

  • BUY PORTAL CD Album HERE

    PORTAL ALBUM LAUNCH is PENNYBLACK MUSIC GIG OF THE YEAR 2016 picked by John Clarkson

    “Raf and O specialise in floaty and delicate musical paintings. Raf’s dreamy vocals leading the way but more often than not melting into the instrumentation. The highlights include a track based on the words of Shakespeare’s ‘Sonnet 62’ and a version of David Bowie’s ‘Win’ which is almost unrecognisable and utterly charming. All in all, this is beautiful stuff.”

    Push, ELECTRONIC SOUND

    “Raf and O are a band of kaleidoscopic, unusual ideas, and, with ‘Portal’, they have created a remarkable record. There is a celestial, otherworldly element to them…they are totally unique”

    PENNYBLACKMUSIC MAGAZINE

    “A further voyage into their adventurous musical dreams, spliced with the literary influences of William Seward Burroughs and Shakespeare.”

    GOD IS IN THE TV ZINE

    “The sublime new album by Raf and O is called ‘Portal’.
    It’s very difficult to choose highlights from such a consistently winning record”

    ADRIAN SPECS

    “Raf and O’s gothic and magical references are twisted to conjure up ominous visions, to a backing track of free-spirited avant-jazz drumming, trip-hop and contorted machine music …from esoteric Italian to plague originated nursery rhyme English, on ‘Drunk’, to channeling a smoky bar room Scott Walker vibe, on ‘Neurons’… Paying homage once again to their biggest inspiration, David Bowie, the duo transforms the original into a beautifully melting, strung-out plucked love recital. Brilliantly shimmering with an affectionate, ruminating and heart-aching vocal … the album cementing the partnership’s unique narratives and poetic views of a machine age and cybernetic world”

    MONOLITH COCKTAIL

    “I was at the QEH for a Burroughs night, where I saw Raf Mantelli and O Richard Smith, aka Raf and O, deliver a superb if too short set to the large and appreciative audience they really deserve.”

    DAVID STUBBS

    “If you are looking for instant gratification in a busy world, try listening to “The Deadliest Flower” or “Magic” to give you an insight into just one window pane of their diverse work”

    HUMAN DYNAMICS

  • BUY SONNET 62/ INK EP – OUT NOW

    ‘Seductive and alien…Aboard a haunted freighter in the deepest reaches of deep space…soothes and coos like a cross between Beth Gibbons and a female David Sylvian…It is both equally seductive and alien, a machine driven twitchy gallop into the ether. Creeping into the dense hallucinatory environment of ‘A Reason To Try’, the trio stir untethered in a strange soup of churned up beats and solar tidal waves’

    MONOLITH COCKTAIL

  • BUY TIME MACHINE CD Album HERE

    FACT magazine Top 10 album of 2014 picked by Joe Muggs

    “The excellent Time Machine represents the very antithesis of EDM ..There is a butterfly, acoustic delicacy about tracks like ‘Mad And Brilliant’, and yet also the deceptive, steel strength of spider silk in their complex weaving – Raf’s vocal ranges far and wide in her emotional and lyrical foragings…Freeze-frame any given second of this album and it’ll reveal a hive of pixellated, analogue activity…As with Time Machine as a whole, it’s an approach you’d do well to take up, if you know what’s good for you.”

    DAVID STUBBS, THE QUIETUS

    “One of the more memorable events of the Beckenham Festival in September 2013 was RAF AND O’s haunting performance of David Bowie’s Lady Grinning Soul”

    DAVID BOWIE OFFICIAL

    “A beguiling slice of noir-pop…a total treat”

    THE GIRLS ARE

    “Tripped-out hypnotic Raf and O embody the exploratory art school/mime period Bowie. Their sound springs from a conjuncture of Aladdin Sane and The Man Who Fell To Earth, but with an added allure of trip-hop…Tender and diaphanous, from bent out of shape Air meets folkloric avant-noir to ESG and Radiohead’s Hail To The Thief”

    MONOLITH COCKTAIL

    “Whispering their song like tomorrow’s cautionary lullabies sent backward to today as an omen of intrigue.”

    IMPOSE MAGAZINE

  • BUY TIME MACHINE EP HERE

    “Interstellar spaciousness”

    EXCLAIM MAGAZINE

    “Four versions of the leading ‘Time Machine’ journey beyond the stratosphere, kooky, mysterious and breathy, attracting an impressive trio of sonic cosmonauts”

    MONOLITH COCKTAIL

  • BUY LADY GRINNING SOUL/ THE FOG HERE

    “Very creative. I enjoyed it a lot”

    MIKE GARSON

    “Raf and O caress Bowie”

    BOWIE WONDERWORLD

    “A moving Avant – Bizarre version of Lady Grinning Soul”

    GOD IS IN THE TV ZINE