Defying ordained music genres, UK/US trio ROC have confounded and delighted… Read Full Bio ↴Defying ordained music genres, UK/US trio ROC have confounded and delighted critics and fans since their first mid-'90s releases. They ransack everything from pure noise to pure pop, combining idiosyncratic male/female vocals, sound effects and straight instruments to reflect modern urban complexity more fully than their tradrock peers.

"if the prospect of a pillar-to-post ride through the post-modern gamut deosn't give you a nosebleed, then you and ROC deserve each other" (uncut).

ROC are:
Patrick Nicholson - keys, guitar, production
Fred Braunen - voice, guitar, keys
Karen Sheridan - voice, guitar, keys

The group released their third album "Night Fold Around Me" in June 2006. It's the overdue follow-up to "Virgin" (Virgin Records 1997) and their debut "ROC" (Setanta Records 1996), both widely acclaimed by press and musicians including Orbital and Radiohead.

The new album (on fast-rising London-Brooklyn label 12 Apostles) has been warmly received by UK press:

"ROC are an intriguing concern and this third album sees that continuing" 3/5 (Q)

"Their most accessible album...a terrific collection of lush, intelligent electro pop full of beauty, tempered optimism and gallows wit" 4/5 The Scotsman

2 singles have preceeded the album. "Princess" was BBC 6music's Evening Sequence Single of the Week. "Journey to the Centre of Brixton" had plays on Radio 1 and 6music and made Playlouder.com's readers poll Top 50 singles of 2005 (despite only being released in December). A further single from the album "Sink A Bite Into Life" is planned, meanwhile a 12" remix of the track by Aussie electrobrat Dsico is currently topping UK club dj charts.

From their early singles such as "God Willing" and "Girl With A Crooked Eye" (Little Star Recordings), the group was labelled 'perverse' and 'uncategorisable' for their refusal to stick to a pre-ordained genre, instead viewing the whole of pop music as fair game for their ideas. While some viewed this as mere mischief, others realised ROC were attempting something more complex:

"be young, be British, parade some sickly indie variant of pop around the shop, watch your so-called career rise in times of chest-beating patriotism and then dip sharply when people come to their senses; alternatively take the ROC route and visit a Britain that is a more paranoid place that the Albion of their Britpop peers. ROC examine the true youth stories of our time: the long-term effects of hedonism, atomised, uncertain urban lives, boredom." (nme)

"their references are as broad as the Severn Bridge, from Velvet Underground to Phil Spector, DJ Shadow to Kraftwerk, kitsch rock to Europop, but that doesn't matter because ROC still make it sound like they're treading through virgin territory." (Melody Maker).

The early singles displayed a tendecy to black humour (still evident on the latest album). "Girl With A Crooked Eye" is a story of domestic violence on the Costa Del Sol, and "X-ine" contains the line "I hope you both get Aids". But with their first album "ROC" the group revealed a more personal side. Fred Browning and Karen Sheridan delivered forlorn breakup songs, screaming rants and self-loathing. But they still weren't beyond upbeat pop songs ("Hey You Chick!"), dreamy instrumentals and spoken word. They also let loose with all manner of sound effects, real answerphone messages from friends and lovers, taped conversations, fragments of tv and radio. "Excised" starts with a secret recording of a friend's wedding.

The "Virgin" album features "Dada", a techno-riot based around Ugandan dictator Idi Amin's infectious laugh, and "Said What I Said" which predated both Goldfrapp's electro-glam stomps and the UK's appetite for Jerry Springer-type TV shows. But these are again interposed with raw emotional material such as the closer "Ocean & England". Q magazine said: "it ends with a love song - now that is unsettling."

Although branded as pranksters, ROC's story is one of committed perseverance. They gained a 'difficult' reputation when their label wrote an open letter to the industry warning people against working with them; and while critics were celebrating their 'fuck-the-formula' approach, ROC were beyond the wit of marketing departments: two lead singers; too dance for rock/too rock for dance. The band never claimed to be original, noting that artists from the Beatles to Pink Floyd to Prince had used multiple musical styles for their palette. But by mid-90s Britain the lines were drawn: post-rave superclubs versus Britpop's real rock revival. Not much room for people undoing the rules and occasionally coming up with something slightly unusual...

Despite rave reviews for their second album, Virgin dropped ROC during an executive purge in 1999. ROC seemed finished. But the albums reached open ears around the globe, and their reputation has grown. The group continued with three single releases, including "2000Mann" on ex-NME writer Ben Willmott's Spiky label, and toured the UK with Sneaker Pimps. Encouragement from fans and friends led to Karen, Fred and Patrick re-convening in 2003, joining forces with fast-growing Brooklyn label 12 Apostles. In 2004 they were back in the studio, with long-standing collaborators Danton Supple (producer of Coldplay's "X&Y") and Gareth Huw Davies at the desk. "Night Fold Around Me" was completed in Summer 2005.

Finally released this June, "Night Fold Around Me" is a sumptuous concoction of dreamy soundscapes, driving beats, rock'n'roll, trashed ballads, and down-the-centre pop; you'll find less of the Idi/Jerry stuff (though the Baader Meinhof gang made it in), leaving the stage open for Fred and Karen's raging, poignant sentiments.

"not for everyone, but oddly life-affirming." The Scotsman June 2006

Website
http://www.rocmusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/rocuk

Moonlight
ROC Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I can see dimes in the night �me. Dimes in the nigh�me
Shinin' in the moonlight
Shinin' in the moonlight
I can see
Dimes in the nigh�me Dimes in the nigh�me Shinin' in the moonlight Shinin' in the moonlight I can see
Welcome to Paris Dimes in the nigh�me Dimes in the nigh�me Shinin' in the moonlight Shinin' in the moonlight
LYRICS MOONLIGHT IN PARIS JOHN RAAYS WITH ROC SCAN
It's the city where you ride around Glitz and glamour out

Cruisin down the 8 now
We out and and about
Fast cars prety girls
Fi�n' in, Horse of God, Rearin' in Paris Fashion week every fucking week More than a lifestyle
It's becoming an habit
Get a grip
They call it P Town
The city where the lights are never turned down I can see
Dimes in the nigh�me
Dimes in the nigh�me
Shinin' in the moonlight
Shinin' in the moonlight
I can see
Dimes in the nigh�me
Dimes in the nigh�me
Shinin' in the moonlight
Shinin' in the moonlight
Walkin on my own
Throughout the city lights
Blinded by them all
I almost lost my sight
Can barely find my
Can barely find
My Path
Rollin up a swisher
Just to ease my mind
Made it through the coldest winter of my life Im bleeding out now
Im bleeding out now
Oh noooo
I Poured out my heart
To get closer to you

Fashion week every fucking week More than a lifestyle
It's becoming an habit
Get a grip
They call it P Town
The city where the lights are never turned down
I can see dimes in the nigh�me. Dimes in the nigh�me
Shinin' in the moonlight
Shinin' in the moonlight

I can see
Dimes in the nigh�me Dimes in the nigh�me Shinin' in the moonlight Shinin' in the moonlight

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Moonlight in Paris" by ROC paint a vivid picture of the luxurious and glamorous lifestyle in the city of Paris, particularly during the bustling Fashion Week. The repeated mention of "Dimes in the night" shining in the moonlight suggests a theme of beauty and opulence, symbolized by the dazzling lights and the presence of attractive women in the city.

The lyrics describe the experience of cruising around the city in fast cars, surrounded by glitz and glamour, and the allure of the fashion world that Paris is renowned for. The reference to "Horse of God" hints at the high-end fashion brands and designer labels that dominate the scene during Fashion Week, emphasizing the extravagant and sophisticated atmosphere of the city.

As the singer navigates through the city lights, they express a sense of being overwhelmed and almost losing their way amidst the dazzling sights and distractions. The imagery of rolling up a swisher to ease their mind suggests a desire to escape or find solace in the midst of the bustling city life and pressures, reflecting a sense of seeking inner peace and tranquility.

The chorus repeats the mesmerizing sight of "Dimes in the night" shining in the moonlight, highlighting the beauty and allure of the city of Paris and the captivating presence of attractive individuals in the night. The song captures a blend of excitement, sophistication, and reflection, depicting a vivid portrayal of the enchanting yet sometimes overwhelming experience of immersing oneself in the vibrant nightlife and high fashion culture of Paris.

Line by Line Meaning

I can see dimes in the night �me. Dimes in the nigh�me Shinin' in the moonlight
I am able to perceive valuable opportunities at night, shimmering under the moonlight.

Welcome to Paris Dimes in the nigh�me Dimes in the nigh�me Shinin' in the moonlight Shinin' in the moonlight
Embracing the luxurious and glamorous lifestyle of Paris, where every moment shines brightly.

It's the city where you ride around Glitz and glamour out Cruisin down the 8 now We out and and about Fast cars prety girls Fi�n' in, Horse of God, Rearin' in Paris Fashion week every fucking week More than a lifestyle It's becoming an habit Get a grip They call it P Town The city where the lights are never turned down
The vibrant city of Paris, known for its opulence and fashion scene, where every moment is filled with excitement and indulgence.

Walkin on my own Throughout the city lights Blinded by them all I almost lost my sight Can barely find my Can barely find My Path Rollin up a swisher Just to ease my mind Made it through the coldest winter of my life Im bleeding out now Im bleeding out now Oh noooo I Poured out my heart To get closer to you
Navigating through the dazzling city lights of Paris, struggling to stay focused on my own path amidst distractions and hardships.

Lyrics © TUNECORE INC, TuneCore Inc.
Written by: Jean Philippe Tabapsi Famdie, John Raays

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS