Kurt Maloo - What About (2014) CD-Rip

Kurt Maloo (ex Double, Troppo, PingPong) surprises with a refreshingly straight new album. His voice obviously feels comfortable in the slender arrangements, that work perfectly and rely on just a few basic instruments like guitar, bass, drums and keyboards. Although Kurt’s guitar definitely plays the main role in this production. You will hear familiar sounds (Drama Queen, Come Over Here, What About) without having a deja-vu, as well as two rocking tracks (Tumbling Skies, Sometimes Easy), which you might have not expected on a Maloo album in the first place. „Never Give Up“ though, is one of two dance tracks, that’s being chased to the fade out by Kurt’s funky guitar. When it’s over way too soon you have no other choice than to put it on repeat.

Kurt Maloo is a former painter who made his first musical appearances in the mid 70s with “Troppo”; a nine-piece experimental art-punk band, of which he was a founding member. After his first solo single “Giant Lady” and the innovative EP “Luna, Luna & The Notorious Maloo Home Works“ he joined forces with Felix Haug (later 50% of Double), and formed with the addition of a bass player a trio called “PingPong”. During the 1981-1982 period they played at several European festivals and released their sole album “From Exile”

In 1983 Maloo and Haug decided to take their musical partnership to greater heights. Two years later Double graced the world with their beautifully crafted and catchy single: "The Captain of her Heart". This is on their first album “Blue”. They had also released two highly acclaimed maxi singles “Rangoon Moon” and “Woman Of The World” prior to "Blue" and included these songs in updated versions in their first album. The sound of Double certainly caught on. “Blue” has been released in more than 50 countries and “The Captain of her Heart“ became a modern-day classic.

In 1987 Kurt Maloo and Felix Haug recorded their second and last album “DOU3LE”; a Freudian stroll through the mind of a modern man. It is best visualized in the unique performance of the legendary mime group "Mummenschanz", in the award winning music video of “Devils Ball”; an unconventional, easy-listening tune, featuring Herb Alpert on trumpet.

The 1990 album “Single” was Maloo`s welcome return to the solo format. After the soundscape constructions of “DOU3LE”, “Single” was a tribute to the pop song as well as Maloo`s playground for various musical styles. Kurt Maloo produced the album together with Mike Pela (Sade) who was also behind the mixing of “DOU3LE”. Obviously the parameters in Kurt`s private life hadn’t switched to “Single” yet, since he got married a few months later, becoming a father to his daughter. Three years later his son was born.

For the recording of the 1995 album "Soul & Echo", Kurt returned to the legendary Can Studio near Cologne, where he had already worked before with Rene Tinner on “Blue”. "Soul & Echo" reverberates the streets of Paris; Maloo`s home between 1986 and 1993.

In 2006 he released the album “Loopy Avenue”. This consists of four re-works of Double`s highlights from the 80s, and eight new and previously unheard tracks. “Loopy Avenue” is also the result of a highly creative co-production between the artist and Pit Baumgartner, the musical director of nu-jazz group DePhazz.

In 2010 Kurt Maloo released the album "Summer of Better Times" on the legendary jazz and folk label Verve Forecast and in 2014 "What About" on his own label CafeSwizz Productions.