Frogcodile: The cross between a sticky amphibian and a dangerous reptile? That seems as whimsical as it is menacing, yet somehow familiar. The refreshing sound of the Wuppertal-based art-rock band FROGCODILE draws the listener into a melancholic-hypnotic spell, only to send him into joyful ecstasy the next moment.
Before groove-driven guitar collages somewhere between Radiohead and The Police, frontman and mastermind Dennis Kresin recounts reflections on a philosophical journey of thought. FROGCODILE follow up their second studio album "Refractions" (2017) with a trilogy of EPs. Spread three times throughout 2018, there is new musical dye that follows on from its more reflective and despairing predecessor. Enhanced with electronic elements, the new sound is more minimalist and approachable. Nonetheless, the mostly intimate vocals occasionally allow themselves to be carried away to loud almost grunge-like excesses. Longing for meaning and marked by an introspective loneliness, the lyrics flow through reverberating guitars and creaking synthesizers. However, without pulling this darkly colorful sonic tapestry from under the listener's feet, the songs repeatedly break out of familiar pop structures.
We Are Rome: Originating from a casting show star's backing band, whose members discovered their shared passion for alternative music while on tour, 'We Are Rome' are a 4-piece indie rock outfit from Schweppenhausen, Germany. While their blend of raunchy guitar sounds, chill filtered synthesizers and a tender vocal topping can't deny their urban ambitions, they will always be inspired by and sound like the small, 800 inhabitant village which they hail from. There is beauty abundant, but it is not for everyone.
It began in 2013, when singer Moritz Thomann was looking for musicians to join his then solo project 'We Are Rome'. While being on tour as guitar player for a hereby unnamed pop star and casting show winner, Moritz bonded with fellow touring musicians Lorenz Stegmaier on keyboards and bassist Niklas Esser. Here we were playing with that really commercialised pop act but all the while geeking out over our favourite Radiohead album, the new Dave Smith Prophet synthesizer and what to think about John Frusciante going electro. At some point we just had to start something together' explains Moritz.
Completing their line up with smaller brother Paul Thomann on drums and former table tennis rival Hannes Porombka on guitar, they started the transformation from a solo project with ever changing backing musician to a real band. As Moritz says 'At first it was me doing the songs and the other guys doing the sounds and that's what you can hear on our first EP. But already then it became clear that everybody in our group had something to say and that it was good.' So after their first EP 'Better Days' which garnered them their first reviews and live gigs, their second release was a complete collaborative effort and really started off their band. 'Wild Sines' was released in October 2016 in true indie fashion via their own label 'Ape Dos Mil'.
Lyrics source and further information: http://www.mampf-jazz.de/programm.html
