TO ROCOCO ROT
THE AMATEUR VIEW
ALBUM CITY SLANG RELEASE: MAY 3, 1999 REVIEW: JUNE 1, 1999

To Rococo Rot have been highly acclaimed for their previous two albums. Consisting of the brothers Ronald and Robert Lippok (the first is also a member of the equally praised Tarwater), and Stefan Schneider, formerly of Kreidler, they are firmly rooted in the German electronica movement.
Their third album, "The Amateur View", sees them combining the atmospheres and sounds of ambient Aphex Twin with a more gentle, but instrumental, pop approach. Sometimes they remind me of Mouse on Mars, but To Rococo Rot are far more exciting. The combination of live instruments and mostly soft electronics creates a multilayered soundscape, that is simple on the surface but reveals a more complex nature at concentrated listening.
"The Amateur View" is a soothing album, with a slightly naive feel to it. Extremely comforting, and extremely pleasant listening.

KRISTOFFER NOHEDEN