Of all the groups that the Residents signed to their Ralph Records, Renaldo & the Loaf were the closest to their label heads in sound. Twisted, high-pitched vocals, child-like melodies, an atmosphere of menace and unease with a stripped-down approach to instrumentation characterised their output.
By their own assertion, they achieved their unique sound in part by striving to get unnatural synthesizer-like sounds using only what instruments they had available (acoustic ones.) To that end they routinely used muffled and de-tuned instruments, and often to striking effect, tape loops/manipulation. The two released four full-length albums, one collection, various songs on compilation albums, and several self-produced demos. They were "discovered" by The Residents when Brian dropped off a tape at Ralph Records headquarters in San Francisco, during a visit to the US. After being signed to Ralph, they collaborated with The Residents on Title in Limbo.
By 1989, the collaboration had lost its steam, and the duo disbanded after recording a sea shanty, "Haul on the Bowline," which appeared only on a Ralph various artists release. Brian Poole ("Renaldo") contributed to sporadic recordings in the 1990s. In 2006 upon the launch of the new Renaldo & the Loaf web site, the duo were reunited for the first time in the better part of two decades.
In October of 2016 they released their first studio album in 29 years, entitled "Gurdy Hurding". Vienna Label Klanggalerie has since re-issued all their albums. In June 2018 Renaldo & The Loaf played their very first genuine live show at Klanggalerie's 25th anniversary in Vienna, documented in the album "Long Time Coming."
External Links:
Website
Renaldo & the Loaf Myspace
The Loaf's Myspace
Renaldo's Myspace
Lime Jelly Grass
Renaldo & the Loaf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stniop htob no thgir er'uoy wonk I ,esruoc fo ,yhW
.seiriuqne edam uoy ,rebmemer I fI
Laid eht ta gnizag ,erehpsomta ym nI
.uoy ta gnilims morf peek yldrah dluoc I
Atad on era ereht ,yas uoy draeh evah I
Gninrom eht lla uoY etisoppo tas d'I ecnis deyonna saw I ,riahc ym morf gnarps I
.olleH
The lyrics to Renaldo & the Loaf's song "Lime Jelly Grass" are cryptic and surreal, reminiscent of the band's experimental and unconventional style. The first two lines are a palindrome, reading the same backwards and forwards, and set the tone for the rest of the song: a mind-bending, whimsical, and sometimes unsettling journey into the unknown.
The song appears to be about a strange and dreamlike experience where the singer finds themselves in a bizarre, disorienting landscape. They recall memories in reverse, with the phrase "eman eht" (the name) repeated backwards. They also reflect on the peculiar qualities of things they encounter in this place, such as lime jelly or grass that grows upward. The chorus is equally enigmatic, with lines that seem to be reversed or repeated out of order. The last word of the song is "hello" spoken backwards, further emphasizing the surreal and otherworldly nature of the experience.
Overall, the lyrics of "Lime Jelly Grass" are open to interpretation and invite listeners to come up with their own meanings. Like much of Renaldo & the Loaf's music, the song challenges conventions and expectations, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in music and language.
Line by Line Meaning
?stcaf eseht teg uoy did "eman eht" ni woh tuB
But who in the name of 'the name' did you get this facet from?
Stniop htob no thgir er'uoy wonk I ,esruoc fo ,yhW
Why, course, of course you are right, but I know both sides to point stop.
.seiriuqne edam uoy ,rebmemer I fI
If I remember you made enquiries.
Laid eht ta gnizag ,erehpsomta ym nI
In my atmosphere, I'm a snapshot in the dial.
.uoy ta gnilims morf peek yldrah dluoc I
I could hold hardy keep from spilling my genius at you.
Atad on era ereht ,yas uoy draeh evah I
I have heard you say there are not data.
Gninrom eht lla uoY etisoppo tas d'I ecnis deyonna saw I ,riahc ym morf gnarps I
I was announcing science, I saw an end coming from my chair, it's opposite you all the morning.
.olleH
Hello
Contributed by Aaliyah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.