Renaldo and the Loaf

An English duo active in the late seventies and most of the eighties, "Renaldo and the Loaf" consisted of a pathologist (David Janssen or "Ted The Loaf") and an architect (Brian Poole or "Renaldo Malpractice") who made music often considered strange.

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 Brian dropped off a tape at Ralph Records headquarters in San Francisco, during a visit to the US. After being signed to Ralph, they collaborated with The Residents on "Title in Limbo".

By 1989, 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 & the Loaf web site, the duo were reunited for the first time in the better part of two decades.

Discography

Full length albums

*"Renaldo and the Loaf play "Struve 'n' Sneff" (home-made cassette, 1979)
*"Songs for Swinging Larvae" (1981)
*"Arabic Yodelling" (1983)
*"Title in Limbo" (1983) (with the Residents)
*"Olleh Olleh Rotcod" (1985) (rarities compilation)
*"Renaldo and the Loaf play "Struve 'n' Sneff" (1985) (remixed/different tracklist)
*"The Elbow is Taboo" (1987 Some Bizzare Records)

EPs

*"Tap Dancing In Slush / Behind Closed Curtains" (1978, unreleased)
*"Renaldo And The Loaf Play Songs From The Surgery" (1980)
*"Hats Off, Gentlemen (1980)
*"Hambu Hodo" (1986)

References

* [http://www.renaldoloaf.com/ Renaldo and the Loaf: The Official Site]
* [http://www.geocities.com/magloaf/ Renaldo and the Loaf: The Hums Do Not Intrude]
* [http://renaldoandtheloaf.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/ A Brief History of Renaldo and the Loaf]
* [http://www.myspace.com/ollehollehrotcod Renaldo and the Loaf's official MySpace page]
* [http://www.myspace.com/thedarkeningscale Ted the Loaf's MySpace page]
* [http://www.myspace.com/renaldomalpractice Renaldo M's MySpace page]
* [http://www.laideafija.com.ar/especiales/ratl/ratlspecial.htm Especial Renaldo and the Loaf (in Spanish, a comprehensive story of the band and the commented discography)]