TO ROCOCO ROT have existed now for over ten years. They formed in 1995, when the Lippok brothers were invited by the owner of a gallery in which they were exhibiting their art to record some music instead of providing a catalogue. Rising to the challenge, they invited bassist Stefan Schneider from up and coming Düsseldorf based Kreidler to join them, and the result was their debut album, released by Kitty-Yo in late 1995. In the years since, they have released two more albums for City Slang (Veiculo and The Amateur View), EPs for City Slang, Sub Pop, Fat Cat and Soul Static Sound, and toured Europe and the US.
They were also behind ST Etienne's recent highly acclaimed album, The Sound Of Water, have remixed artists as diverse as Leftfield, Appliance, Mira Calix and Wolfgang Voight, and have somehow found time to produce two radio plays and even a soundtrack to a documentary entitled No Ordinary Cowboy. Stefan Schneider has also released two mini albums under the name Mapstation, and releases a 12" for Domino Record's Series 500 in March, while Ronald Lippok continues to work on his acclaimed Tarwater project. Robert Lippok has also just released his debut solo material on Raster Noton Records.
The TO ROCOCO ROT sound is quite unlike any other. Those familiar with their previous work will find that MUSIC IS A HUNGRY GHOST sees the band refine their talent for sumptuous and restrained instrumental soundscapes, underpinned by Stefan Schneider's lugubrious basslines. But it also exhibits even greater skill at resolving the conflict between abstract electronica and contemporary dance music. The new album sees TO ROCOCO ROT at their most accessible, weaving intricate melodies amongst intimate sounds, whilst maintaining the trademark warmth and elegance that has always lain deep at the heart of their sound. It is this that distinguishes them from their harsher sonic contemporaries (who are, it should be noted, not so-called post rock acts like former label mates Tortoise, but instead the likes of Boards Of Canada.
TO ROCOCO ROT WEBSITE
