Search - Toog :: Easy Togg for Beginners

Back from his Japanese tour with Fantastic Plastic Machine and Momus, Toog brings us his second album of surrealistic images and complex lyrics (half in French / half in English), combined with minimal electronica, piano and strange electronic sounds... Imagine you are sitting in a classroom as a late born-again student, trying to learn how to learn, instead of trying to convince everyone that you already know all. This is Toog's fantastic imaginary school, where you can be taught about jackalopes, statues covered with pigeon shit, literature, politics, history, love and sport (which is the same), in less than 4 minute courses! You can also listen to prophecies (the album, mastered on May 25, 2001 ends with two crashes). But the best thing to do is forget about all of what you've learned: the knowledge is nothing comparing to the power of imagination. Let's revisit the world with love and humor. Toog will be your blind guide in the school of utopia. Let's all just be beginners! Toog was born in France, near Switzerland. In his early years, Toog used to work as an estate representative and then he began studying litterature in the south of France (Marseille). Toog started his musical career after having met the british singer Momus in 1995 in Paris. They both became close friends and started to tour the world together in 1998, sometimes joined by cute japanese singer Kahimi Karie (America, Europe and Japan, more than 100 shows). The 3 companions were part of the program "Electrophobia" by the BBC Choice TV channel, with Add N To X and Stereolab in 1999. The first Toog album, "6633" was released in America (Le Grand Magistery), Europe (Cherry Red/Analog Baroque) and Japan (Flavour of Sound) between nov.1999 and feb. 2000. Toog's music video has been played on MTV Europe and musical channels in France and Japan. This album, recorded home, drew an international attention with its surrealistic and complex lyrics, combined with minimal electronica, made of piano and strange electronic sounds. Toog was also portrayed by the US magazine Surface in 2000. In july 2001, the second album called "Easy Toog For Beginners" was released in Japan (L'Appareil Photo Bis). A short tour started there with Fantastic Plastic Machine and Momus. (Tokyo/Kyoto/Tokyo). Then Toog prepared his 4th participation to the CMJ Festival in NYC with Panda 43, his post hippie duet project with french artist and girlfriend Florence Manlik. The airflight was scheduled on 12th september (postponed 12th october). This was a time of devastation and a strange correspondence started between Toog and italian cult actress Asia Argento. The two events were combined in a mini-album, "Anna Lou", dedicated to Argento's baby. The purpose was to say that love spreads far beyond the smoke of Manhattan (recorded 11/12/13th september, released 10th november 2001 on L'Appareil Photo Bis). Toog influences are multiple. Cinema: he is a fan of Werner Herzog, Jonas Mekas, Jack Perry (The Swimmer), Philippe Garrel, Harmony Korine, Koji Wakamatsu, and the post 68 Zanzibar dandy film makers. In music, he likes Money Mark, White Noise, Jimi Tenor, Satie, Ali Farka Toure, the Magnetic Fields, Beck, Gainsbourg, Boards of Canada, Takemura, Stereolab, Momus, some rap and rnb. He is a poet too, having published his poems several times in poetry magazines and having received a poetry grant from the french government. Toog is also writing music for short indie movies and he published photos in the first issue of On magazine. He is now preparing the two next musical projects: the first Panda 43 album ("Chanson Hippie") and the third Toog album ("Go To Togo"), a game on letters and anagrams which will lead him to Africa in 2002.