Paul Roland
Encyclopedia
Paul Roland is a recording artist, writer and journalist.
Since the release of his first (shared) single Oscar Automobile in 1979 Roland has been spinning his tales against a backdrop of gothic rock, psych-pop, folk and, occasionally, baroque strings. His character creations include a Regency magistrate, various 19th Century murderers, a retired executioner, an opium addict, and an entire court of medieval grotesques.
In 2006 Roland left England to live in Germany.
who later appeared on tracks for Paul’s second album. After an abortive flirtation with the music business, when he was managed by David Enthoven (manager of Roxy Music) and June Bolan (widow of Marc Bolan
), Roland returned to Armageddon Records for the mini-album Burnt Orchids. Its title track was the first to feature Paul backed by a small string and woodwind ensemble, a trademark of many of his albums of the 80s and 90s.
The success of the album led to Paul's first tours in Europe, label deals in France (New Rose Records), Germany (Pastell), Greece (DiDi Music), Italy (Diva Records), the USA (Revolver) and Japan (Century Records) and offers to work with film composer Michael Nyman and members of the Velvet Underground. Other cult figures such as Robyn Hitchcock
, Nick Saloman (a.k.a. The Bevis Frond), Nick Nicely, and Andy Ellison (of John's Children) made guest appearances on Paul’s subsequent albums, several of which are now listed as highly collectable including the psych cult classic Danse Macabre, the acoustic based mini-albums A Cabinet Of Curiosities and Happy Families with stories of eccentric characters that might have been written by H.G. Wells, M.R. James and Jules Verne
is set to music that invites comparison with the best early work of Al Stewart
, Marc Bolan
and Syd Barrett
, the rockier Duel with its medieval-tinged three-song suite The King Must Die and the folk rock outing Masque, Roaring Boys, a mini-album of cover versions entitled Strychnine, Sarabande and Gargoyles which completed the first chapter of the Roland discography in 1997.
Then Roland took a seven year break from music in 1997 to raise his two young sons and write a series of books on mysticism and true crime.
In 2002 Roland returned with an appearance at the Herbstnächte-Festival in Berlin in September of that year. After that a series of ‘subtle but significantly improved’ re-issues appeared, beginning with Duel which was released by Haunted Forest Records in Greece (2002).
Then in 2004 Roland returned with his first new album in seven years, the largely acoustic Pavane, which was released on Roland’s own (revamped) label Gaslight Records. The album provided a further glimpse into his mind including a brief baroque instrumental piece that he had discussed recording with film composer Michael Nyman many years earlier. This album was re-issued by Black Widow Records in Italy in 2006.
In June 2007 Roland released his first new rock album for many years Re-Animator, which features musicians who have recorded with Caravan, Jimi Hendrix, Steve Hillage and many great musicians of the 1960s Canterbury music scene. This album was released by Black Widow Records in Italy and re-issued as an expanded edition by Syborgmusic in Germany.
In 2008 Roland’s album Nevermore was released on Syborgmusic in Germany. This album has a selection of songs in a variety of styles from seafaring folk to psych-pop and more whimsical fantasy this time inspired by Poe and Jules Verne. The album contains a three song cinematic soundtrack suite called The Last Voyage Of The Nautilus.
The new album Grimm is a true solo album. Roland played every instrument on the album and engineered the recording in his own studio. All of the songs are based on the dark fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm, so there is a touch of the macabre and the doomed romantic about the lyrics although the musical setting is baroque acoustic psych pop.
Biography
Paul Roland was born in England in 1959. Roland’s father was a writer of short stories and TV comedy scripts and his mother an actress.Since the release of his first (shared) single Oscar Automobile in 1979 Roland has been spinning his tales against a backdrop of gothic rock, psych-pop, folk and, occasionally, baroque strings. His character creations include a Regency magistrate, various 19th Century murderers, a retired executioner, an opium addict, and an entire court of medieval grotesques.
In 2006 Roland left England to live in Germany.
Music
Roland’s first album The Werewolf of London (1980), which boasted a penchant for historical and supernatural themes was picked up by Armageddon Records in the UK, who at the time also had the Soft Boys on their roster. And it was there that Paul met Robyn HitchcockRobyn Hitchcock
Robyn Rowan Hitchcock is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. While primarily a vocalist and guitarist, he also plays harmonica, piano and bass guitar....
who later appeared on tracks for Paul’s second album. After an abortive flirtation with the music business, when he was managed by David Enthoven (manager of Roxy Music) and June Bolan (widow of Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet. He is best known as the founder, frontman, lead singer & guitarist for T. Rex, but also a successful solo artist...
), Roland returned to Armageddon Records for the mini-album Burnt Orchids. Its title track was the first to feature Paul backed by a small string and woodwind ensemble, a trademark of many of his albums of the 80s and 90s.
The success of the album led to Paul's first tours in Europe, label deals in France (New Rose Records), Germany (Pastell), Greece (DiDi Music), Italy (Diva Records), the USA (Revolver) and Japan (Century Records) and offers to work with film composer Michael Nyman and members of the Velvet Underground. Other cult figures such as Robyn Hitchcock
Robyn Hitchcock
Robyn Rowan Hitchcock is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. While primarily a vocalist and guitarist, he also plays harmonica, piano and bass guitar....
, Nick Saloman (a.k.a. The Bevis Frond), Nick Nicely, and Andy Ellison (of John's Children) made guest appearances on Paul’s subsequent albums, several of which are now listed as highly collectable including the psych cult classic Danse Macabre, the acoustic based mini-albums A Cabinet Of Curiosities and Happy Families with stories of eccentric characters that might have been written by H.G. Wells, M.R. James and Jules Verne
Jules Verne
Jules Gabriel Verne was a French author who pioneered the science fiction genre. He is best known for his novels Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea , A Journey to the Center of the Earth , and Around the World in Eighty Days...
is set to music that invites comparison with the best early work of Al Stewart
Al Stewart
Al Stewart is a Scottish singer-songwriter and folk-rock musician.Stewart came to stardom as part of the British folk revival in the 1960s and 1970s, and developed his own unique style of combining folk-rock songs with delicately woven tales of the great characters and events from history.He is...
, Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet. He is best known as the founder, frontman, lead singer & guitarist for T. Rex, but also a successful solo artist...
and Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter, best remembered as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic...
, the rockier Duel with its medieval-tinged three-song suite The King Must Die and the folk rock outing Masque, Roaring Boys, a mini-album of cover versions entitled Strychnine, Sarabande and Gargoyles which completed the first chapter of the Roland discography in 1997.
Then Roland took a seven year break from music in 1997 to raise his two young sons and write a series of books on mysticism and true crime.
In 2002 Roland returned with an appearance at the Herbstnächte-Festival in Berlin in September of that year. After that a series of ‘subtle but significantly improved’ re-issues appeared, beginning with Duel which was released by Haunted Forest Records in Greece (2002).
Then in 2004 Roland returned with his first new album in seven years, the largely acoustic Pavane, which was released on Roland’s own (revamped) label Gaslight Records. The album provided a further glimpse into his mind including a brief baroque instrumental piece that he had discussed recording with film composer Michael Nyman many years earlier. This album was re-issued by Black Widow Records in Italy in 2006.
In June 2007 Roland released his first new rock album for many years Re-Animator, which features musicians who have recorded with Caravan, Jimi Hendrix, Steve Hillage and many great musicians of the 1960s Canterbury music scene. This album was released by Black Widow Records in Italy and re-issued as an expanded edition by Syborgmusic in Germany.
In 2008 Roland’s album Nevermore was released on Syborgmusic in Germany. This album has a selection of songs in a variety of styles from seafaring folk to psych-pop and more whimsical fantasy this time inspired by Poe and Jules Verne. The album contains a three song cinematic soundtrack suite called The Last Voyage Of The Nautilus.
The new album Grimm is a true solo album. Roland played every instrument on the album and engineered the recording in his own studio. All of the songs are based on the dark fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm, so there is a touch of the macabre and the doomed romantic about the lyrics although the musical setting is baroque acoustic psych pop.
Discography (a selection)
The complete Paul Roland discography (1979–2011) is very extensive and comprises 92 releases and appearances on 39 Various Artists compilations until today.- Oscar Automobile (shared double A-side 7” single - 1979)
- The Werewolf Of London (as Midnight Rags LP - 1980)
- Blades Of Battenburg (12" - 1983)
- Burnt Orchids (LP - 1985)
- Death Or Glory (12" - 1986)
- House Of Dark Shadows (compilation CD/LP/MC - 1986)
- Gabrielle (12" - 1987)
- Danse Macabre (CD/LP - 1987)
- A Cabinet Of Curiosities (CD/LP - 1987)
- Alice's House (12" - 1987)
- Confessions Of An Opium Eater (‘Best Of’ LP - 1987)
- Happy Families (CD/LP - 1988)
- Duel (CD/LP - 1989)
- Acoustic Radio Sessions 1986-88 (LP - 1989)
- Live In Italy (CD/LP - 1990)
- Masque (CD/LP - 1990)
- Roaring Boys (CD/LP - 1991)
- Strychnine (CD - 1992)
- Sarabande (CD - 1994)
- Live In Germany (CD - 1995)
- Waxworks (‘Best Of’ 2CD - 1995)
- Gargoyles (CD - 1997)
- Duel (re-issued CD - 2002)
- Gaslight Tales (Best Of CD - 2003)
- Pavane (CD/LP - 2004)
- Strychnine…And Other Potent Poisons (re-issued CD/LP - 2005)
- Re-Animator (CD/LP - 2007)
- The Werewolf Of London (re-issued on CD - 2007)
- Danse Macabre & Burnt Orchids (re-issued on CD - 2008)
- Nevermore (CD - 2008)
- A Cabinet Of Curiosities & Happy Families (re-issued on CD - 2009)
- Demos (CD - 2009)
- Duel - 20th Anniversary Reissue (CD - 2010)
- In Memorium 1980-2010 (2CD released to mark Roland's 30 year recording career - 2010)
- Grimm (new CD - 2011)
Books
Roland is the author of more than 30 books on the subject of mysticism, crime and the occult His books, which have been translated into more than 15 languages including Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Greek and Hebrew, cover spiritual and occult traditions, which culminated in his creation of ‘The Kabbalah Cards’ (AGMuller/Urania) in collaboration with artist Sylvia Gainsford. The cards are a radical reinterpretation of the Jewish mystical teachings with a serious psychological insight which distinguished them from the Kabbalah themed tarot packs which preceded them.External links
- http://paulroland.wordpress.com/
- http://www.paulroland.de
- http://www.paulroland.it
- http://www.paulroland.net
- http://paulroland.schattentanz.de