Customer Reviews

Songs for Swinging Larvae

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am amazed that this album has been re-issued as a CD. I guess there must be a few other folks besides me who understand the brilliance at work here. Very witty stuff here that relies on the musicians' creativity rather than their access to a big production budget. Their other albums got slicker and more produced so they lost that wonderful sick sound. This is a must listen for anyone who is interested in pop music on the edge - fans of Capt. Beefheart, Zappa, Zorn, Mr. Bungle, etc. might be open-minded enough to understand the inspired weirdness of Songs for Swinging Larvae. I think this album is more extreme and, at the same time , much more listenable than any of the Residents' stuff.

I think it is to miss the mark to call RATL "unique" as for ideas. They were admittingly inspired by the early Residents. This is easily heard. And nothing wrong with that. That does not hold back the fact that they had their very own signature on their works, as well as some very own ideas.

After repeated listenings to RATL over the years, as well as frequent watchings of their Ralph videos, I have come to lift this british duo to great heights. One might wonder what could have become of them if they had kept bringing recordings out. It is so SAD they disbanded!

If you're new to RATL , start anyplace, all they did is 5 stars, and so great. And then get all you can. Do not miss out their co-work with the Residents: Title in Limbo.

Hat's off gentlemen!

I find Renaldo and the Loaf so much more listenable and humorous than the Residents or any of their other labelmates on Ralph Records. This album says "no synthesizers were used," but you'd never know it. All sorts of different world instruments, noises, sound manipulation and tape loops with crazy lyrics.

Most people would describe this record as absolutely unlistenable, but it has a genuine, innocent spirit. They made their music in a home studio using everyday objects and tape manipulation, and the results are incredibly bizarre. Nevertheless, I think these guys are ripe for rediscovery. This is music that does not yet have a category; it could be the foundation of a new genre.

for those of you who haven't heard of or seen MTV2's Wonder Showzen, it is a adult acid trip of sesame street, and most of the time, the soundtrack to the show sounds like this.

This record is one of the most interesting, experimental, strangest, annoying entertaining acid trips you will ever hear, I highly suggest tracks 8 and 9 to play for your pet.

This album was originally released in 1979 on fellow experimental band The Residents own Ralph Records imprint. It garnered a wide underground following in 1980. The band comes from the slums of England, Renaldo and Ted Loaf take you to an entirely different funny, almost frightening world, I suggest pairing this cd with ''Locust Abortion Technician" by The Butthole Surfers, which is a bit similair.

in 1982, Penn Jillete of Penn and Teller fame, was locked in a room for a week, with a limited food supply and nothing but Ralph LP's and Video Tapes. Penn says that ''Renaldo & The loaf is amazing, it's simply annoying, yet addictive, I've been a fan ever since"

The First place I heard of these guys was on The Residents Icky Flix dvd where a music video is included, directed by Graeme Whiffler. The video was almost taken in by MTV, but was eventually banned, simply because it was about a child being kidnapped by an old man that lives in a teepee that turns out to be his own mother, you have to see it to understand it.

Sadly, the group split in 1989, they are still friends and occasionally visit each other.

I find this much more entertaining than anything the Residents have done, and I'm a huge fan of theirs! this is definitely stranger, but alot more listenable, it's almost strange to describe it that way,

So, if your weird, or you listen to all music, OR you just like to take acid and trip out, this is a must.

P.S. I do not encourage drugs

one of the most creative recordings that I've ever heard......truly original and brilliant......audiophiles will appreciate the deft use of speaker switching at various subtle moments....there's definitely an indescribably playful mood to this record...strange sense of narrative too. I got this when it was initially released on Ralph on vinyl and have enjoyed it ever since.......excuse me, excuse me....is Guava a Doughnut?

The Residents sounded weird because they couldn't help it. Renaldo & The Loaf sounded weird because they wanted to sound like The Residents. They also sounded like they had Russel Mael as their vocalist. Or Tiny Tim. I think they even occasionally used a ukulele.