Headphone Highlights

To Rococo Rot

Domino, Berlin

While the exploration of musical freedom in the face of technological precision has been a major theme of German music since the fifties, the mid-nineties were a particularly exciting time, and few projects connected as many dots as Berlin's To Rococo Rot. Equally indebted to classic Krautrock as to contemporaries like Tortoise, thoroughly impressed by the futuristic aspects of New Wave as well as the glitched out experiments of Oval and quite fond, actually, of techno's straight 4/4. The trio of Stefan Schneider (formerly of Kreidler) and brothers Robert and Ronald Lippok haven't stood still since their beginnings, though, moving from the clockwork-like elegance of their early work towards a more jagged approach on albums like 'Speculation', that saw them work with Faust's Jochen Irmler in his studio. There is something about the unpredictable soundscapes that might remind you of Cluster, while the bass holds down a steady pulse, like a good friend guiding you through the sonic wilderness. And, speaking of audio guides, make yourselves comfortable for this show filled with To Rococo Rot's Headphone Highlights and enjoy another scenic journey through sound.