Rob Laroca
Back to artists // Homepage
Rob Laroca
FRIENDS IN FAR AWAY PLACES is the debut long player from cinematic groove merchants Laroca. A heady mix of lush electronica, world flavours and muted beats, this impressive debut is the result of a sonic adventure embarked upon by the Laroca duo, known to their respective mothers as Rob and Olly.
Drawn together from Oxford and London through a mutual friend and a shared love of My Bloody Valentine-esque musical noise Rob Pollard and Olly Wakeford began their adventure experimenting with 4-track recorders and creaking eighties synths. Although the early Laroca sound was mainly electronic it wasnt long before they were longing to introduce more live instruments. Both had played music from an early age; Rob, the guitar and bass, and former Royal College of Music student, Olly, had played keyboards, bass and, one of Larocas trademark sounds, the flute, ever since his arms were long enough. For Friends In Far Away Places, Laroca went on to enlist the additional musical talents of vocalist Anna Snowman (Fiona Renshaw), MC Mantmast (Grooverider, Friction), Ricky Fabulous (Belleruche) on guitars, Matt Derbyshire (The Second Whorl) on Rhodes, Nick Atkins (Bussetti) on Sax and Mr Smiff (Breakin Even) on congas.
Admirers of Bonobo, Quantic, Lemon Jelly, Fragile State, Thievery Corporation and the Catskills label, Larocas sound is reassuringly chilled yet funky, symphonic, soulful, layered and exotic; drawing on world influences ranging from Sufi and Afro-Beat to flamenco and Eastern European gypsy. Larocas live show is equally as inspired, enhanced by the video wizardry of VJ Myogenic (Ulrich Schnauss, Gilles Peterson) they were invited to play at the Big Chill Festival long before they even signed to Just Music.
Friends In Far Away Places is inviting and compelling; highlights include Generalife, a Sufi-tinged filmic affair, Larocas signature tune Looking Like Lions and the hypnotic Plage Lodo, inspired by a trip to Corsica, with its laidback, muted beats and soothing flute which cant help but conjure up images of pure white beaches and Super8 holiday films.
Friends in Faraway Places was released on MAY 1st, 2006 on Just Music.
‘Record Of The Week: a wonderful and unique album. 5/5’ UPDATE MAGAZINE
’Record of the Week: a wonderful and unique album. UPDATE MAGAZINE
‘Essential…a classic album - Laroca have just made your summer.’ BIGCHILL.NET
‘Beautifully chilled soundscapes….a magical piece of work.’ BLUES & SOUL
‘A beautiful creation which fuses ambient moments of chilled out, down tempo pleasure.’ IN THE MIX
'A mightily impressive collection of beats, Eastern-influenced vocals and flutes.' INDIE LONDON
‘Chilled, groove-laden, cinematic, yet accessible.’ MUSIC OMH
‘A fine debut that displays a variety of uplifting moods and quality musicianship all round.’ BARCODEZINE
FRIENDS IN FAR AWAY PLACES is available to BUY /
DOWNLOAD from Just Music and can be downloaded from
KarmaDownload
Tune Tribe
Napster and Virgin Digital amongst others.
To read all the glowing reviews in all their glory, please click here
For more info visit laroca.co.uk and Laroca myspace.
Rob Laroca
FRIENDS IN FAR AWAY PLACES is the debut long player from cinematic groove merchants Laroca. A heady mix of lush electronica, world flavours and muted beats, this impressive debut is the result of a sonic adventure embarked upon by the Laroca duo, known to their respective mothers as Rob and Olly.
Drawn together from Oxford and London through a mutual friend and a shared love of My Bloody Valentine-esque musical noise Rob Pollard and Olly Wakeford began their adventure experimenting with 4-track recorders and creaking eighties synths. Although the early Laroca sound was mainly electronic it wasnt long before they were longing to introduce more live instruments. Both had played music from an early age; Rob, the guitar and bass, and former Royal College of Music student, Olly, had played keyboards, bass and, one of Larocas trademark sounds, the flute, ever since his arms were long enough. For Friends In Far Away Places, Laroca went on to enlist the additional musical talents of vocalist Anna Snowman (Fiona Renshaw), MC Mantmast (Grooverider, Friction), Ricky Fabulous (Belleruche) on guitars, Matt Derbyshire (The Second Whorl) on Rhodes, Nick Atkins (Bussetti) on Sax and Mr Smiff (Breakin Even) on congas.
Admirers of Bonobo, Quantic, Lemon Jelly, Fragile State, Thievery Corporation and the Catskills label, Larocas sound is reassuringly chilled yet funky, symphonic, soulful, layered and exotic; drawing on world influences ranging from Sufi and Afro-Beat to flamenco and Eastern European gypsy. Larocas live show is equally as inspired, enhanced by the video wizardry of VJ Myogenic (Ulrich Schnauss, Gilles Peterson) they were invited to play at the Big Chill Festival long before they even signed to Just Music.
Friends In Far Away Places is inviting and compelling; highlights include Generalife, a Sufi-tinged filmic affair, Larocas signature tune Looking Like Lions and the hypnotic Plage Lodo, inspired by a trip to Corsica, with its laidback, muted beats and soothing flute which cant help but conjure up images of pure white beaches and Super8 holiday films.
Friends in Faraway Places was released on MAY 1st, 2006 on Just Music.
‘Record Of The Week: a wonderful and unique album. 5/5’ UPDATE MAGAZINE
’Record of the Week: a wonderful and unique album. UPDATE MAGAZINE
‘Essential…a classic album - Laroca have just made your summer.’ BIGCHILL.NET
‘Beautifully chilled soundscapes….a magical piece of work.’ BLUES & SOUL
‘A beautiful creation which fuses ambient moments of chilled out, down tempo pleasure.’ IN THE MIX
'A mightily impressive collection of beats, Eastern-influenced vocals and flutes.' INDIE LONDON
‘Chilled, groove-laden, cinematic, yet accessible.’ MUSIC OMH
‘A fine debut that displays a variety of uplifting moods and quality musicianship all round.’ BARCODEZINE
FRIENDS IN FAR AWAY PLACES is available to BUY /
DOWNLOAD from Just Music and can be downloaded from
KarmaDownload
Tune Tribe
Napster and Virgin Digital amongst others.
To read all the glowing reviews in all their glory, please click here
For more info visit laroca.co.uk and Laroca myspace.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home