To Rococo Rot were a Berlin-based band who combined electronic and analog elements to create instrumental post-rock music. Pitchfork described the band's sound as "unmistakably digital, yet 100% human."[1] The group was composed of bassist Stefan Schneider and brothers Robert (electronics, guitar) and Ronald Lippok (drums, effects). The band's name is a palindrome, as it can be spelled the same both forwards and backwards.
To Rococo Rot | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Berlin, Germany |
| Genres | Post-rock Electronic / IDM Ambient Minimalism |
| Years active | 1995–2014 |
| Labels | Kitty-Yo City Slang Domino Records |
| Members | Robert Lippok Ronald Lippok Stefan Schneider |
To Rococo Rot formed in 1995 and were active until 2014, releasing eight major albums and numerous collaborations, remixes, singles and EPs. They were known for their minimalist, musically engaging live show, and gave their final performance on December 17, 2014 via a live-streamed Boiler Room "In Stereo" session.[2][3]
History
editWhile involved in the Cabaret Voltaire-inspired experimental outfit Ornament and Verbrechen, the Lippok brothers connected with then-Kreidler bassist Stefan Schneider to make a one-off record project intended to accompany a gallery exhibition.[2] The group's eponymous debut, recorded on an ADAT without editing, was released in 1995 in the form of a picture disc, and subsequently issued on CD by Kitty Yo in 1996.[4] During the trio's early years, Schneider continued to play in Kreidler before leaving to focus on To Rococo Rot.[2] Ronald Lippok simultaneously recorded with Tarwater. Robert Lippok has described To Rococo Rot's approach as "a very simple way of organizing music" that focuses on just a few musical elements at a time.[4]
To Rococo Rot rose to prominence with three critically acclaimed albums released by UK independent label City Slang.[1] The band's sound continued to evolve following a move to Domino Records: Hotel Morgen (2004) emphasizes the group's electronic and IDM side, while Speculation (2010) was hailed for "capturing a more live sound and looser atmosphere."[5] The band's last full-length album, Instrument, was released in July 2014, and features Arto Lindsay on three tracks. Commenting on the uncustomary inclusion of vocals, Robert Lippok said: "The melodies Arto sang were surprising... His voice is light and is flying over the music with turns and twists, but also it is brittle and has something almost fragile about it. It's like a delicate bird."[4]
Shortly after releasing Instrument, "a big gap of expectations" surfaced among members, and the band decided to split up.[4] All three members have since gone on to release music through various projects.
In 2022, Bureau B released The John Peel Sessions, which collects the band's three previously-unreleased John Peel Sessions, recorded between 1997–1999. Then on December 12, 2022, To Rococo Rot reunited for a special one-time appearance at the Lieblingsplatte ("Favorite Records") Festival in Düsseldorf, where the band performed the 1999 album The Amateur View in its entirely.[6]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Release date | Notes | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| To Rococo Rot | January 12, 1996 | Eponymous debut | Kitty-Yo |
| Veiculo | February 20, 1997 | City Slang | |
| The Amateur View | April 26, 1999 | City Slang | |
| Music is a Hungry Ghost | April 30, 2001 | Featuring I-Sound (turntable effects) | City Slang |
| Hotel Morgen | April 19, 2004 | Domino | |
| Taken From Vinyl | November 27, 2006 | 12 previously vinyl-only tracks (Enhanced CD version features a video for 'Telema') | Staubgold |
| Speculation | March 8, 2010 | Featuring Faust's Hans Joachim Irmler (keyboards) on "Friday" | Domino |
| Instrument | April 2014 | Featuring Arto Lindsay (vocals on three tracks) | City Slang |
| The John Peel Sessions | November 4, 2022 | Collects the band's three previously-unreleased John Peel Sessions, recorded 1997–1999 | Bureau B |
Commissioned Projects
edit| Title | Release date | Notes | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kölner Brett | November 26, 2001 | ‘Kölner Brett’ is the name of a Cologne building for which To Rococo Rot were asked to supply a "musical translation."[7] | Staubgold |
| ABC One Two Three | October 21, 2007 | Music resulting from a commission related to the 50th anniversary of the Helvetica typeface. | Domino |
EPs
edit| Title | Release date | Notes | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris 25 | February 10, 1998 | City Slang | |
| TRRD | July 1998 | With D | Soul Static Sound |
| Pantone | October 15, 2001 | With I-Sound | City Slang |
Singles
edit| Title | Release date | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| "She Understands the Dynamics" | April 27, 1998 | FatCat Records | |
| "Telema" | March 29, 1999 | From The Amateur View | City Slang |
| "Cars" | September 20, 1999 | From The Amateur View | City Slang |
| "Jacky" / "Crosby" | April 18, 2000 | Sub Pop 7" Singles Series | Sub Pop |
| "Smaller Listening" / "Numbers In Love" | 2000 | 7" With D | Soul Static Sound |
| "Cosimo" | June 21, 2004 | From Hotel Morgen | Domino |
| "Horses, Horses, Horses" | December 3, 2008 | Alternative, dance-oriented versions of two tracks later featured on Speculation | Domino |
Compilations
edit| Title | Release date | Notes | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocket Road 1997–2001 | November 16, 2012 | 3-CD Box Set / Digital Release, reissuing Veiculo, The Amateur View and Music Is A Hungry Ghost, with previously unreleased bonus tracks and remixes by Four Tet, Daniel Miller, Gareth Jones, Mira Calix. | City Slang |
See also
edit- Sound of Water - Saint Etienne album featuring arrangements by To Rococo Rot
References
edit- ^ a b Schreiber, Ryan (8 June 1999). "To Rococo Rot: The Amateur View (Review)". Pitchfork. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
- ^ a b c Muggs, Joe (15 December 2014). ""Have a Night Out and Get Drunk Together": A Fond Farewell to To Rococo Rot". Boiler Room. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- ^ "In Stereo: To Rococo Rot (Archived)". Boiler Room. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d Freeman, John (7 July 2014). "The Voice Of Minimalism: An Interview With To Rococo Rot". The Quietus. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
- ^ Sisson, Patrick (13 April 2010). "To Rococo Rot: Speculation (Review)". Pitchfork. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
- ^ Wappner, Stephan (13 December 2022). "To Rococo Rot spielen einzigartignes Konzert in Düsseldorf" [To Rococo Rot play a unique concert in Düsseldorf]. NRZ.de (in German). Retrieved 19 December 2022.
- ^ "Kölner Brett . To Rococo Rot (Staubgold 22)". Staubgold. Retrieved 24 January 2018.