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 Tocotronic:Independent PopThe band was founded in '93 in Hamburg named after a precursor of the Nintendo "Gameboy".Tocotronic is:
After playing in pubs and saloons in Hamburg, the first single, "Ich moechte Teil einer Jugendbewegung sein", came out and was followed by the first LP/CD "Digital ist besser". It's a mixture of the wish to be an authentic part of a new youth-generation and some kind of melancholy of higher order. Surprisingly, in July '95 the next mini-album was released, "Nach der verlorenen Zeit". It continued the self-reflecting style of Tocotronic but also included songs about different stages of friendship and similar relations. "Wir kommen um uns zu beschweren" is the next album from April '96 which contains punk-pop music as well as 7-minute songs with extended guitar solos. In August of '96 Tocotronic refused a German pop award (named "Young, German and on their way up"), because Jan stated, they were not proud of being young and they were not proud of being German. The fourth album was out in '97, "Es ist mir egal, aber" with more musical variations and some longing lyrics, & made its way up to no. 13 in the German album charts. In '97 Tocotronic participated in some festivals and toured through Germany and USA. K.O.O.K , the latest album, released in '99, is the slowest and most silent work. It includes differentiated arrangements with violins and horns as well as longer, somewhat cryptic, lyrics. The new CD should be out soon (spring '02). The release was put off several times. All in all Tocotronic is one of the most authentic independent popgroups with a lot of musical potential. (Thanks so much to Olly for this!!!) :) -Mikki 12/01 More at: |
