C'est La Vie Tragique (a CDR album in 7 parts, with unique numbered handmade sleeves) is now available to buy. The album deals with shipwrecks, lost soldiers, loneliness and alienation in far off lands during the early part of the 19th century. Click on this text to buy.
Ratatosk is originally a mischievous squirrel from Norse mythology, but in this context is some guy called Rhodri Viney.
He has previously performed and released music under the names Teflon Monkey and Broken Leaf, along with being a major player in bands such as Right Hand Left Hand and Vito. He has also played live and on record with Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, The Secret Show, Brave Captain, Cymbient, Little My and others far too numerous to mention.
The music of Ratatosk can be summed up in two words – miserablism and minimalism. If the initial motif is sufficiently sad and melancholy to bring a tear to the eye, then it’s explored and expanded upon with an almost zen-like repetition, using layered guitars, vocals, piano, musical saw and pedal steel.