Crooked Man

Crooked Man

A.K.A. Richard Barratt A.K.A. Parrot, and many more A.K.A.s - is the Sheffield based producer, known for being one half of the duo Sweet Exorcist, alongside Cabaret Voltaire founder Richard H Kirk. Sweet Exorcist were known as the first architects of the bleep techno sound. 

In 2016 DFA released the Crooked Man LP, which saw Parrot moving away from the bleep sound and towards house music with a rough post-punk edge, or as Ross Orton, Parrot’s old friend and collaborator, describes it “Jerky Parrot Music”.

Around this time Parrot, Kid Acne and Damian Harris had worked together on the cartoon, Zebra Face - the adventures of a bombastic hip-hop obsessed zebra and his diabetic side kick. 

Damian came across Parrots LP, and loved it right off the bat…

“Having had some time away from the dance music frontline in the early 10’s, Crooked Man reignited my love for the club. 

I sent him a note telling him how much I loved his record and from that moment on we were intrinsically linked. 

He started sending me music, including Incapable featuring Roisin Murphy. After working on Roisin Machine together he asked if I was interested in the 3rd Crooked Man LP”

Damian began working with Crooked Man, which primarily started Vicious Charm Recordings. Seeing through the releases of Love & Resistance, Nemesis and more to come…


For a more indepth picture of Parrot and his exceptional musical career we recommend these two excellent interviews with Dr Rob from Ban Ban Ton Ton…

INTERVIEW / RICHARD BARRATT / PARROT / CROOKED MAN – PART 1 

INTERVIEW / RICHARD BARRATT / PARROT / CROOKED MAN – PART 2

Releases