Renaldo and the Loaf

Renaldo and the Loaf is an English musical duo active in the late 1970s and most of the 1980s, consisting of a pathologist (David Janssen or "Ted the Loaf") and an architect (Brian Poole or "Renaldo Malpractice", most often simply "Renaldo M").

Renaldo and the Loaf
OriginUnited Kingdom
GenresAvant-garde
Experimental music
Years active1975–1988
2016–present
LabelsRalph (US)
Do It
Some Bizzare
Associated actsThe Residents
WebsiteRenaldo and the Loaf: The Official Site

By their own assertion, they achieved their unique sound in part by striving to get unnatural synthesizer-like sounds using only what instruments they had available (acoustic ones). To that end they routinely used muffled and de-tuned instruments, and, often to striking effect, tape loops / manipulation. The two released four full-length albums, one collection, various songs on compilation albums, and several self-produced demos. They were "discovered" by The Residents when Poole dropped off a tape at their Ralph Records headquarters in San Francisco, during a visit to the U.S. After being signed to Ralph, they collaborated with The Residents on Title in Limbo.

Songs for Swinging Larvae was released in 1981 on Ralph Records. It was not the duo’s first album but it was the first released on vinyl. Lyrics were taken from disparate sources such as Sherlock Holmes stories and Samuel Beckett's play, Endgame.

In 1981, Graeme Whifler directed a short video, Songs for Swinging Larvae,[1] accompanied by a medley of music from the album, and produced by The Residents' managers, the Cryptic Corporation. The film, based on a true story, concerns a kidnapped child, and "poses ancient questions regarding home and heart".[2] Premiered at an art museum, the film was banned from some television programs and film festivals due to its controversial nature. It was included first in The Residents' Video Voodoo video collection, and later on the comprehensive Icky Flix DVD.[3]

The LP and video iterations of Songs for Swinging Larvae were followed by Arabic Yodelling in 1983. Renaldo and the Loaf had already recorded Struvé and Sneff in 1979, and had been distributing it, on demand, on home-made cassette tapes ever since; Ralph Records finally re-issued a remastered version in 1984.

As the 1980s advanced, the duo found it increasingly difficult to complete projects, and they both had demanding day jobs and family lives. Some Bizzare Records' involvement injected enough motivation for the completion of The Elbow Is Taboo in 1987, with a shift to a more refined electronic sound, but the process had been less than rewarding.

By 1988, the collaboration had lost its steam, and the duo disbanded after recording a sea shanty, "Haul on the Bowline," which appeared only on a Ralph various artists release. Brian/Renaldo contributed to sporadic recordings in the 1990s. In 2006, upon the launch of the new Renaldo and the Loaf website, the duo were reunited for the first time in the better part of two decades. It however wouldn't be for 10 years when the duo would record together again. In October of 2016 they released their first stduio album in 29 years, entitled "Gurdy Hurding". Vienna Label Klanggalerie has since re-issued all their albums.

In June 2018 Renaldo & The Loaf played their very first genuine live show at Klanggalerie's 25th anniversary in Vienna, documented in the album "Long Time Coming".

Discography

Albums

Year Title Label Note
1979 Play Struvé & Sneff Rotcod Productions First pressing limited to 250 Copies.
1980 Songs From The Surgery.... Demo album sent to Ralph Records.
1981 Songs For Swinging Larvae Do It Records
1982 The Serious Collection Rotcod Productions Demo album sent to Ralph Records
1983 Title In Limbo Ralph Records Collaboration with The Residents.
Arabic Yodelling
1987 The Elbow Is Taboo Some Bizzare
2016 Gurdy Hurding Klanggalerie
2018 Long Time Coming Live album, recorded 16/06/2018

Compilations

Year Title Label Note
1985 Olleh, Olleh Rotcod Rotcod Productions Limited to 5,000 copies.
1986 Hambu Hodo Some Bizzare EP. Selections from 'The Elbows Is Taboo'
2001 Hambu Ho Do Tak Awa EP. Recorded in 1987. Copies given to friends of Renaldo.
2014 Behind Closed Curtains Klanggalerie Demos from 1978-1979
2016 Breadcrumbs Collection of outtakes 1979 - 2016

EPs

Year Title Label Note
1980 Hats Off, Gentlemen! Rotcod Productions Demo EP sent to Ralph Records
1986 Hambu Hodo Some Bizzare Selections from 'The Elbows Is Taboo'
2001 Hambu Ho Do Tak Awa Recorded in 1987. Copies given to friends of Renaldo.
2019 Song Of The Lungfish Psychofon Records

Singles

Year Title Label
2020 Hambu Lodo Bandcamp
Hair Apparent

References
  1. "Songs for Swinging Larvae". YouTube. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
  2. Icky Flix DVD booklet
  3. "The Residents Discography: Video". Theresidents.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.