Crocodile Shop
Encyclopedia
Crocodile Shop, is an electro
-industrial
, aggrotech, EBM
band formed in Berlin, Germany in 1987 by Mick Hale and R. A. Werner.
project, "Mod Fun
". They became inspired by the more "darker" post-punk
sounds of Joy Division
, New Order
, Wire
, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
and The Jesus and Mary Chain
. According to the band's official website, the name "Crocodile Shop" was just something the group entitled a demo tape as a reminder of its contents, and the name stuck.
Originally a three-piece band (guitar, bass and drums) with drummer John Figlar of Lord John fame, the group's first release was the 1987 EP entitled "Head" which saw limited distribution on the Minneapolis
-based Susstones Records. At the time, the group had a strong indie rock
sound which they later came to dislike and called "Head" their version of Ministry's
"With Sympathy
" which was an overall embarrassment to the band. The following full-length album "Lullaby", produced by Chameleons UK's Dave Fielding, developed their sound further towards gothic and included more dark guitar work. Eventually, the band would slowly abandon the "guitar goth" sound, first replacing their drummer with a drum machine
, and finally with the addition of keyboard player V. Markus, (who was influenced by the likes of Front 242
, Laibach
and Nitzer Ebb
), they turned to an entirely electronic-based outfit. The band followed up with their developing electronic sound by releasing two more vinyl EPs, the Red Lorry Yellow Lorry influenced "Measure By Measure" and "Technological Optimism".
Crocodile Shop's commercial debut finally came in 1993 with the release of the album "Celebrate the Enemy" on Tinman Records. The album, produced by Chris Randall of Sister Machine Gun
, was a clean blend of the latest electro-sounds and mixed elements of trance
, break-beat, and EBM. An Alternative Press review described the work as "a hard and harsh blend of high energy rock with the melodic aspects of electro and the high angst of industrialism." The album was followed up by the remix EP "Crush Your Enemies" which was also praised on the dance floor.
In 1995, Crocodile Shop signed to Metropolis Records
and continued to expand their repertoire releasing the full-length albums "Beneath" in 1996 and "Pain" in 1997. The remix EPs "Metalwerks" and "Soviet" also followed the studio albums. Also released was "Live Action", a 777-copy limited edition live performance recorded in Germany and distributed on SubMission/SPV label.
As the band's popularity in the electro-underground grew, Mick Hale began working on other side projects releasing two electro-dub albums under the name Division #9, and teaming up with V. Markus as progGREX.iv. The band had also gone on to produce remixes for such artists as Collide, Battery
, and Android Lust
.
After extensive tours over the next few years, in 1999, the band recruited new member Len9 and changed their musical direction once again. With Len9's influences and taking advantage of the newest and more affordable synthesizer technology that was out there, the door opened for new possibilities in their sound. They released "Everything is Dead and Gone" which was followed in 2000 by "Order + Joy". (The album's title is a play off two of the group's original influences: New Order and Joy Division). Belgium
's SIDE-LINE magazine called "Order + Joy" Crocodile Shop's "best album ever", hailing it as a return to their earlier and gritter EBM sound. "Order + Joy" was followed by the remix EP "Wrong" which was released on CD and distributed exclusively through the internet and thus was the first time for the band to issue their music online and reach a wider audience.
In 2002, now under the shortened name Croc Shop, the band released "World" which, while continuing much of the gritty EBM sound of "Order + Joy", represented another shift in the music style to a cleaner Synth Pop vibe. While the band embarked on another tour they released a remix EP for "World" called "Translated", and again, it saw exclusive distribution over the internet. The band has since released the 2 cd best of called "CS_Sea: Self Extracting Archive" with 37 tracks covering all the releases, it continues to sell well on cdBaby.com.
Today, the band continues to tour, and has shared the stage with such acts as Front 242
, Project Pitchfork
, Switchblade Symphony
and Rammstein
.
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
-industrial
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
, aggrotech, EBM
Electronic body music
Electronic body music or industrial dance is a music genre that combines elements of industrial music and electronic dance music...
band formed in Berlin, Germany in 1987 by Mick Hale and R. A. Werner.
Background
Crocodile Shop was born after Hale and Werner disintegrated their previous new waveNew Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
project, "Mod Fun
Mod Fun
Mod Fun are an American power pop/garage punk band from the New York City area. Mod Fun were originally active in the early to mid 1980s, and played an integral part in New York City's burgeoning garage rock revival scene of the time. By mid 1986 they were widely regarded as one the best known...
". They became inspired by the more "darker" post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
sounds of Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
, New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
, Wire
Wire (band)
Wire are an English rock band, formed in London in October 1976 by Colin Newman , Graham Lewis , Bruce Gilbert , and Robert Gotobed...
, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry are a rock band that were formed in Leeds, England in early 1981.- History :The band was formed by guitarist/songwriter Chris Reed and vocalist Mark Sweeney, along with bassist Steve Smith and drummer Mick Brown...
and The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride, Glasgow in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid...
. According to the band's official website, the name "Crocodile Shop" was just something the group entitled a demo tape as a reminder of its contents, and the name stuck.
Originally a three-piece band (guitar, bass and drums) with drummer John Figlar of Lord John fame, the group's first release was the 1987 EP entitled "Head" which saw limited distribution on the Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
-based Susstones Records. At the time, the group had a strong indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
sound which they later came to dislike and called "Head" their version of Ministry's
Ministry (band)
Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
"With Sympathy
With Sympathy
-European release "Work for Love":*"What He Say" was renamed "Do the Etawa" on the European release.-Ministry:* Alain Jourgensen - vocals, guitar , keyboards, drums * Stephen George - drums , percussion -Additional musicians:...
" which was an overall embarrassment to the band. The following full-length album "Lullaby", produced by Chameleons UK's Dave Fielding, developed their sound further towards gothic and included more dark guitar work. Eventually, the band would slowly abandon the "guitar goth" sound, first replacing their drummer with a drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
, and finally with the addition of keyboard player V. Markus, (who was influenced by the likes of Front 242
Front 242
Front 242 is a pioneering Belgian electronic music group that came into prominence during the 1980s. They are known for being the premier pioneer of electronic body music and as a major influence on the electronic and industrial music genres.-Formation:...
, Laibach
Laibach (band)
Laibach is a Slovenian avant-garde music group associated with industrial, martial, and neo-classical musical styles. Laibach formed June 1, 1980 in Trbovlje, Slovenia . Laibach represents the music wing of the Neue Slowenische Kunst art collective, of which it was a founding member in 1984...
and Nitzer Ebb
Nitzer Ebb
Nitzer Ebb is a British EBM group formed in 1982 by Essex school friends Vaughan "Bon" Harris , Douglas McCarthy , and David Gooday .-Band name:...
), they turned to an entirely electronic-based outfit. The band followed up with their developing electronic sound by releasing two more vinyl EPs, the Red Lorry Yellow Lorry influenced "Measure By Measure" and "Technological Optimism".
Crocodile Shop's commercial debut finally came in 1993 with the release of the album "Celebrate the Enemy" on Tinman Records. The album, produced by Chris Randall of Sister Machine Gun
Sister Machine Gun
-The early years:Sister Machine Gun was formed by Chris Randall and Guilherme Machado in New York City. They performed at New Jersey's Pipeline, and New York's Limelight. The band went on a short hiatus after Chris Randall joined KMFDM's tour as a stage technician. After the tour, Randall left...
, was a clean blend of the latest electro-sounds and mixed elements of trance
Trance music
Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that developed in the 1990s.:251 It is generally characterized by a tempo of between 125 and 150 bpm,:252 repeating melodic synthesizer phrases, and a musical form that builds up and breaks down throughout a track...
, break-beat, and EBM. An Alternative Press review described the work as "a hard and harsh blend of high energy rock with the melodic aspects of electro and the high angst of industrialism." The album was followed up by the remix EP "Crush Your Enemies" which was also praised on the dance floor.
In 1995, Crocodile Shop signed to Metropolis Records
Metropolis Records
Metropolis Records is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based record label, distributor, and mail-order store specializing in the post-industrial field such as electro-industrial, synthpop, futurepop, darkwave, and gothic musical genres....
and continued to expand their repertoire releasing the full-length albums "Beneath" in 1996 and "Pain" in 1997. The remix EPs "Metalwerks" and "Soviet" also followed the studio albums. Also released was "Live Action", a 777-copy limited edition live performance recorded in Germany and distributed on SubMission/SPV label.
As the band's popularity in the electro-underground grew, Mick Hale began working on other side projects releasing two electro-dub albums under the name Division #9, and teaming up with V. Markus as progGREX.iv. The band had also gone on to produce remixes for such artists as Collide, Battery
Battery (band)
Battery was a Washington D.C. hardcore band that existed from 1990 until 1998. During this time they released a 7", a split 7" with Ignite, two MCDs and three full-length albums on Deadlock, Lost & Found, Tidal, Conversion, and Revelation Records....
, and Android Lust
Android Lust
Android Lust is the industrial solo project of Shikhee, that combines elements of rock, industrial, gothic and classical styles into a blend of music that she describes as "electronic and dark."-History:...
.
After extensive tours over the next few years, in 1999, the band recruited new member Len9 and changed their musical direction once again. With Len9's influences and taking advantage of the newest and more affordable synthesizer technology that was out there, the door opened for new possibilities in their sound. They released "Everything is Dead and Gone" which was followed in 2000 by "Order + Joy". (The album's title is a play off two of the group's original influences: New Order and Joy Division). Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
's SIDE-LINE magazine called "Order + Joy" Crocodile Shop's "best album ever", hailing it as a return to their earlier and gritter EBM sound. "Order + Joy" was followed by the remix EP "Wrong" which was released on CD and distributed exclusively through the internet and thus was the first time for the band to issue their music online and reach a wider audience.
In 2002, now under the shortened name Croc Shop, the band released "World" which, while continuing much of the gritty EBM sound of "Order + Joy", represented another shift in the music style to a cleaner Synth Pop vibe. While the band embarked on another tour they released a remix EP for "World" called "Translated", and again, it saw exclusive distribution over the internet. The band has since released the 2 cd best of called "CS_Sea: Self Extracting Archive" with 37 tracks covering all the releases, it continues to sell well on cdBaby.com.
Today, the band continues to tour, and has shared the stage with such acts as Front 242
Front 242
Front 242 is a pioneering Belgian electronic music group that came into prominence during the 1980s. They are known for being the premier pioneer of electronic body music and as a major influence on the electronic and industrial music genres.-Formation:...
, Project Pitchfork
Project Pitchfork
Project Pitchfork is an electronic musical group from Hamburg, Germany.-History:Project Pitchfork was formed by Peter Spilles and Dirk Scheuber. Having agreed to work together, they then picked the project's name by picking a word at random from the dictionary. The demo K.N.K.A. was recorded...
, Switchblade Symphony
Switchblade Symphony
Switchblade Symphony was a San Francisco, United States–based band which was formed in 1989 by composer Susan Wallace and vocalist Tina Root. They released their first album in 1995 on the Cleopatra Records label...
and Rammstein
Rammstein
Rammstein is a German Neue Deutsche Härte band from Berlin, formed in 1994. The band consists of members Till Lindemann , Richard Z. Kruspe , Paul H. Landers , Oliver "Ollie" Riedel , Christoph "Doom" Schneider and Christian "Flake" Lorenz...
.
Albums
- Head - 12" (1987) Susstones Records
- Lullaby - 12" LP (1988) Susstones Records
- Measure By Measure - 7" EP Susstones Records
- Technological Optimism - 12" EP DAMn! (crocshop.com)
- Celebrate the Enemy - LP (1993) Danse Assembly Productions • CD (1994) Tinman Records
- Crush Your Enemies - CD (1995) Tinman Records
- Beneath - CD Album (1996) MetropolisMetropolis RecordsMetropolis Records is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based record label, distributor, and mail-order store specializing in the post-industrial field such as electro-industrial, synthpop, futurepop, darkwave, and gothic musical genres....
• CD Album (1997) Out of LineOut of Line MusicOut of Line Music is a German electronic music label based in Berlin.... - Metalwerks - CD EP (1997) Out of Line/Semaphore
- Pain - CD Album (1997) Metropolis • CD Album (1997) Out of Line, Sub/Mission Records • 2xCD Ltd. Edition (1997) Out of Line, Sub/Mission Records/SPV
- Soviet - CD Ltd. Edition (1998) Tinman Records
- Everything is Dead and Gone - CD Album (1999) Metropolis
- Order + Joy - CD Album (2000) Metropolis
- Wrong - CD Maxi (2000) DAMn! (crocshop.com)
- World - CD Album (2002) Metropolis
- Translated - CD EP (2003) DAMn! (crocshop.com)
- CROC_SHOP.SEA (Self Extracting Archive) - 2xCD (2004) DAMn! (crocshop.com)
Compilation appearances
- Rivet Head Culture - CD track #17 Growing Stronger (Steroid Mix) (1993) If It Moves...
- There Is No Time - 4xCD disc #4 track #7 Celebrate the Enemy (1995) Ras Dva Records
- Sound-Line Vol. 4 - CD track #10 Growing Stronger (The Fuhs Remix) (1997) Side-Line
- 100 Tears - A Tribute to The Cure - CD track #7 Let's Go to Bed (1997) CleopatraCleopatra RecordsCleopatra Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label.- History :Founded in 1992 by Brian Perera, it specializes in gothic rock, hard rock, heavy metal and reissues of out-of-print music...
- Awake the Machines - On the Line Vol. 2 - 2xCD disc #1 track #2 Blinding (1997) Out of Line, Sub/Mission Records
- Bodyhorst's Popshow - CD track #7 Some Nothing (1997) Zoth Ommog RecordsZoth Ommog RecordsZoth Ommog Records is the name of the influential German Industrial music record label which was owned by the parent label Music Research. The company was established by German music producer Andreas Tomalla and later handed over to producer Torben Schmidt...
- Vertigo Compilation 01/1997 - CD track #9 High and Deep (1997) Celtic Circle Productions
- Empire One - CD track #1 Celebrate the Enemy, track #8 Soviet (Colder), and track #16 Grey Day Reign (1998) Tinman Records
- Hymns of the Warlock - A Tribute to Skinny Puppy - CD track #7 The Choke (1998) Cleopatra, Synthetic Symphony
- Sounds from the Asylum 1 - CD track #12 Funeral March (SMP Remix) (1998) Base Asylum
- Five Years of Electronic Tears - 2xCD disc #2 track #10 Waiting Game (1999) Cyberware Productions
- Metropolis 1999 - CD track #9 Core (1999) Metropolis
- Base Asylum - Sounds form the Asylum Two - 2xCD disc #2 track #1 Useless (Sanity's Edge Remix) (2000) Base Asylum
- Critical M@55 - CD track #13 Order + Joy (Dessau Remix) (2000) Metropolis
- Cryonica Tanz V.1 - 2xCD disc #2 track #6 New Ideal (UK Remix) (2000) Cryonica Music
- Electropolis: Volume 2 - CD track #6 Order + Joy (Exclusive Remix) (2000) Metropolis
- Essential Industrial Masters - 3xCD disc #3 track #7 The Choke (2001) Big Eye Music
- Critical M@55 Volume 4 - CD (listed as Croc Shop) track #6 World (Global Mix) 2001 Metropolis
- Tinman 21 - Promo CD track #2 World, and track #9 Higher (2002) Tinman Records
- Futronik Structures 4 - CD (listed as Croc Shop) track #5 Nu Precedence (2003) DSBP Records
- Interbreeding II: Industrial Mutation - 2xCD (listed as Croc Shop) disc #2 track #13 Hide (V 1.3) (2003) BLC Productions
- Fully Automated: The Headache Remixes - CD (listed as Croc Shop) track #4 Generation (2nd Generation Mix) (2004) Uncoiled Loops Production
- State of Synthpop 2005 - 6xCD (listed as Croc Shop) disc #5 track #2 Safe Harbour (2005) A Different Drum