Vampire Rodents

Vampire Rodents
Vampire Rodents circa 1993, from left to right: Victor Wulf; Andrea Akastia; Daniel Vahnke
Background information
Origin	Phoenix, Arizona, US
Genres	Experimental rock, sound collage
Years active	1989–1996
Labels	Dossier, Fifth Colvmn, Re-Constriction, V.R.
Associated acts	Dilate, Ether Bunny
Website	Official website
Past members	Andrea Akastia Daniel Vahnke Victor Wulf

Vampire Rodents was the name of a sound collage and experimental music ensemble based out of Phoenix, Arizona, although its core members originally came from Canada. The creative nucleus of the project comprised vocalist and composer Daniel Vahnke and keyboardist Victor Wulf. Daniel Vahnke was primarily influenced by 20th-century classical and avant-garde music, whereas Wulf drew from new age, ambient and synth-driven pop music. Their work also dabbled in big band, bebop, musique concrète, industrial, electro, Indian classical and Greek music.

Vampire Rodents debuted with War Music (1991), an album that showcased their knack for dark humor and experimentation with the pop and industrial music format. Premonition (1992), recorded with violinist and cellist Andrea Akastia, revealed the band's artistic ambitious and interest in musique concrète and ambient music. Considered by some to be the group's magnum opus, Lullaby Land (1993) further expanded the sound with the inclusion of additional musicians, house beats, swing rhythms and world music.