The Perc Meets The Hidden Gentleman

History says, it was at „Weisses Rössel“ in Graz, Austria,in 1987, where Tom “The PERC” Redecker and Emilio “THE HIDDEN GENTLEMAN” Winschetti decided to make it side by side further along their way. From that day on their meetings took place in Tom’s living room in Bremen, the legendary Shack Studio. Meetings of curiosity, infantil joy on experiments and the knowledge of the personal story of each of them: Tom’s avandgarde-industrial project Kühe im Nebel, his solo trips as The Perc and Emilio’s MINT and Mythen in Tüten.
When their single “Hungry” appeared on scene a lot of people got their problems with that complicated name. But this name soon won publicity! In the beginning the live performances cultivated an attitude of minimum, which made them a lot of friends. Finally THE PERC MEETS THE HIDDEN GENTLEMAN became underground stars in Germany with their debutalbum “Two Foozles At The Tea Party” Only few bands present this aesthetique with this charme, and only a few bands manage it to give a song that much convincing atmosphere with that reduced supply. The songs “Niteride” and “Respect & Devotion” are considered this way splendid examples , fascinating repertoire classics, where the wonderful chant of Emilio is perfectly blended with an impressive staging. The aspect of reducement is secondary, even a fuller arrangement couldn’t achieve more intension
For the front cover of “Two Foozles” Tom and Emilio played the roles of a priest and a bon vivant. By the way, the game of changing identities put them for the front covers of their albums into into the shoes of Hippie-troubadours, spiderweb covered Cinderella-sleepers or musicians in baroquesque style. Perhaps they are a little bit of all these roles, at least you can find some equivalence in the music if you listen closely.
The following success inspired the team to album no.2 “This Maid Of Delphi”. This album got more integral in itself and the concept of minimalism had been relativted. A number of well-known guest musicians proved a larger production, without losing this certain intimate charme. Tom and Emilio became restless travelers, who felt like home in a lot of recording studios and were looking out of their solid duo foundation for exchange with their colleagues of all directions. The vinyl only mini-album “The Fruits Of Sin & Labor” documented on one LP-side the crowd moving live situation of THE PERC MEETS THE HIDDEN GENTLEMAN, who were sailing already way ahead of their ultimate masterpiece should be released : “Lavender”! This production united all former proved qualities and set new, astonishing accents, which only had been indicated before. In “Lavender” there’s rock history swinging with it, reaches back to the era of the big progressive rock concept albums of the early 70s touches in doing so the partly unfairly disdained Krautrock past. THE PERC MEETS THE HIDDEN GENTLEMAN arouse in front of this mighty background an own magic with ethnic patches. “Lavender” became the biggest success of Tom and Emilio, the following tours around Europe with grown band called “The Lavender Orchestra” of course multiplicated the number of fans.
In Prague a bootleg of excellent quality called “Praha” was released, beneath countless live tapes.
The latest studioalbum “Ages” shows Emilio and Tom 1993 travelling on a time trip to baroque. Mighty sounds, wonderful lyrics! “Candle” from this album, a reference to Peter Hammill, grew up to a further radio hit
When Tom and Emilio decided to make a break in 1994, they couldn’t know, that this would last until today. But THE PERC MEETS THE HIDDEN GENTLEMAN was never forgotten, and a lot of fans are still waiting for a reunion of the “most unusual duo in Germany” (Musikexpress/Sounds). Who knows?
(Arne Schumacher/Eva Kairies)
Discography(only longplayers):
1989 Two Foozles at The Tea Party (Strange Ways Records, D)
1990 This Maid Of Delphi (Strange Ways Records, D)
1990 The Fruits Of Sin & Labor (Strange Ways Records, D)
1991 Lavender (Strange Ways Records (new: 2001 Sireena Records, D)
1993 Ages (Strange Ways Records (new: 2002 Sireena Records, D)
1994 Seven Years on The Peak (Strange Ways Records, D)
1998 Praha (Moloko Plus, D)