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
The Bread Song
Renaldo & the Loaf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Brown, crisp rolls, fresh and warm
I roam the streets for baker's shops
Compelled to enter each I pass
I once rode in a baker's van
Down the road when I was small
Could this have started my obsession
I had a friend who was the same
Biting corners from his purchase
Murmuring some sweet endearment
To the yeasty object of his love
My passion's getting out of hand
I'm rapidly losing control
Each room is stacked up to the ceiling
With it's moulding, doughy crew
So if you chance to see me walking
Or stumbling with a heavy loud
Please relieve me of my burden
And check my pocket for hidden rolls
The Bread Song is a quirky and at times unsettling song by Renaldo and The Loaf that delves into the singer's obsession with fresh bread. The lyrics depict the singer's intense desire for the delectable aroma and taste of freshly baked bread, so much so that they are compelled to visit every bakery they come across while roaming the streets. The song then takes a turn, as the singer recalls a childhood memory of riding in a baker's van, sparking the question of whether this experience triggered their obsession, or if there is a more sinister force at play. The obsession continues to escalate as the singer mentions a friend with a similar passion for bread but with an added layer of romanticism, ending with a plea for anyone who comes across them to check their pockets for hidden rolls.
The song can be interpreted in a few different ways, with some seeing it as a humorous take on food fetishes, while others view it as a commentary on addiction and obsession. The melody is upbeat and bouncy, adding to the whimsical and slightly unsettling tone of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
The thought of fresh bread drives me crazy
I am obsessed with the idea of fresh bread and it affects me to a great extent
Brown, crisp rolls, fresh and warm
I crave bread that is crunchy, brown, hot, and new
I roam the streets for baker's shops
I wander around looking for places that sell bread
Compelled to enter each I pass
I feel obligated to go inside every bakery that I come across
I once rode in a baker's van
There was a time when I traveled in a vehicle that belonged to a baker
Down the road when I was small
This occurred when I was young and the trip took place on a street
Could this have started my obsession
My fixation on bread could have began because of this event
Or is there some more sinister cause?
Perhaps some dreadful reason led me to become fanatic about bread
I had a friend who was the same
There was someone I knew who had the same obsession as me
Biting corners from his purchase
He used to eat the edges of his bread
Murmuring some sweet endearment
He would whisper something lovely and affectionate to his bread
To the yeasty object of his love
The bread was the thing he adored and cherished the most
My passion's getting out of hand
My enthusiasm for bread is becoming excessive and difficult to manage
I'm rapidly losing control
I am quickly becoming unable to handle my obsession with bread
Each room is stacked up to the ceiling
I have filled every room in my place with bread that is stacked up to the top
With it's moulding, doughy crew
The bread in each of these rooms is starting to rot, and has a soft and damp texture
So if you chance to see me walking
If you happen to come across me while I'm walking
Or stumbling with a heavy load
Or perhaps tipping over because of the weight of the amount of bread I carry
Please relieve me of my burden
I request that you take some of this bread away from me
And check my pocket for hidden rolls
Also see if I have some bread hidden in my pocket
Contributed by Charlotte B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Matt
i am really stoned and this is kinda good
eyevocal
I thought it was a violin, too, but it turns out that it's a koto played with a bow.
Elias Veine Wiig
Thought it was a Tanpura....that's what The Beatles used in Tomorrow Never Knows, Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds etc.
Deathcomes4u
lol. I like it.
Some Bizarre ta Some Bizzare Label
Love devotion
claudevandog
This song reminds me of that one weirdo on DeviantArt that has a fetish for blonde women buying a bunch of extremely expensive wonder bread
The New IHasEars Channel!
lol
spockblocked
breaddies