Biography/Discography
Kurt Maloo, a former painter, made his first musical appearances in the early ’70s at gallery openings and similar events in Zurich. From 1976-78, he was part of Troppo, a nine-piece experimental band of which he was a founding member. In 1979, he released his first solo single “Giant Lady”. The following year saw the innovative EP “Luna, Luna + The Notorious Maloo Home Works”.In 1980 Kurt met Felix Haug (later 50% of Double) and formed, with the addition of a bass player, a trio called Ping Pong. They built a following through their own recordings and live appearances at a number of European festivals, including Montreux Jazz.
In 1983, Maloo and Haug decided to make a go of it as a duo. As “Double”, they first recorded a 12″ EP called “Nanningo”. It was followed in 1984 by two more singles - “Rangoon Moon” and “Woman of the World”, both of which appear on Blue in updated or remixed versions - and a self-produced black and white video for “Rangoon Moon”, that became a cult classic on a variety of European television formats and got several plays on VH1.
In the fall of 1985, Switzerland’s Double started invading the world with their beautifully crafted, catchy single “The Captain of Her Heart” from their first album Blue. The sound of Double certainly has 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 album DOU3LE with guest musicians such as Herb Alpert (trumpet) and Michael Urbaniak (violin)…..and not to forget the unique performance of the legendary “Mummenschanz” in the music video of „Devils Ball“, a weird easy-listening tune, feat. Herb Alpert on trumpet. The video, directed by Hannes Rossacher and Rudi Dolezal was an award winner in Cannes in 1988.
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 different musical styles. Kurt Maloo produced the album together with Mike Pela (Sade) who also mixed DOU3LE. Obviously the parameters in Kurt`s private life hadn`t switched to “Single” yet since he got married a few month later, became father of a daughter and three years later of a son.
For the recording of the 1995 album “Soul and Echo” Kurt returned to the legendary Can Studio near Cologne where he already has worked with sound engineer Rene Tinner on Blue. “Soul & Echo” reverberates the streets of Paris, Maloo`s home from 1986 - 1993.
In 2006 he released the album „Loopy Avenue“. Four re-works of Double`s highlights from the 80s and eight new and previously unheard tracks by Kurt Maloo and Double are the result of a highly creative co-production between the artist and Pit Baumgartner, the musical director of De-Phazz.
