Out of the Races and Onto the Tracks

The Rapture was formed in the spring of 1998 by Vito Roccoforte and Luke
Jenner. With a keen ear focused toward visionaries such as PIL, Televison,
and Chrome, the band quickly formed a reputation across the country,
among “those who know” for its energetic, often chaotic live sets; Jenner
jumping about like a stilted prat on steroids, while the rhythm section pushed
out its patented brand of “sonic deathfuck groove.”

Two records were recorded that fall: an 8-song LP released on the seminal
San Diego art punk label, Gravity Records, and a single released on Sonny
Kaye’s Gold Standard Laboratories. Following these two releases, the band
took its make-it-fucked-up philosophy on the road, touring with Sunny Day
Real Estate, Gogogo Airheart, and Nuzzle.

In May of 1999 the band relocated to New York City. Matt Safer, a recent
arrival from Washington DC, took over the bass roles. With a more solid lineup
than ever before, the band dove into an exploration of dance and pop music,
adding Chic, The Byrds, The Happy Mondays, and Timbaland to their
previous influences. On the EP that followed - 2001’s Out Of the Races and
Onto the Tracks - The Rapture nailed their iconoclastic brand of wildly
energetic rock drawing as much from dance music as post-punk.