Zeal & Ardor Discover Who They Are
11 February 2022 sees the release of Zeal & Ardor’s new album, their third via the Brighton-based MVKA. Tellingly, it is entitled “Zeal & Ardor”. “With this eponymous album we have arrived at the sound I have always imagined this project should have”, says Manuel Gagneux, the man who dreamed up the gospel/death metal-fusion concept […]
Emilie Zoé Says Hello to Her Future Me
Emilie Zoé releases her latest album, “Hello Future Me”, on 11 February 2022 via Hummus Records. After two collaborative albums with Young God Franz Treichler (/A\) and theatre/soundtrack composer Christian Garcia Gaucher (“Pigeons”), “Hello Future Me” marks a return to a more conventional and quieter singer/songwriter. Recorded with her long-term musical partner, the percussionist Nicolas Pittet, […]
Blind Butcher Counting the Days
The raucous guitar/drums/pedals duo Blind Butcher from Lucerne have hit on a novel idea to release their new album – they will do so in twelve steps, with one new song available to download from their homepage on the 22nd of each month. First off in January was the footloose glam-punk track “Flash Snap Shot”. […]
Zian Throws off His Burden
Singer/songwriter Zian’s debut album “Burden” was released on 28 January 2022 – days later it landed at number two in the official Swiss charts! Blessed with a deep, flexible and tremolo-laced voice, the Basel-based and Sony-signed artist arrived from nowhere in 2021 when his single “Show You” became one of the bigger hits of the […]
Bonaparte and Sophie Hunger Hobnobbing with Daft Punk
Bonaparte and Sophie Hunger, plus LCD Soundsystem’s bassist Tyler Pope and the drummer Wouter Rentema – not the most obvious combination of artists we could have thought of. But there’s an easy explanation. “One of the few great things about the pandemic”, it says in their press release, “was that musicians had enough time to […]
Norna Tracking the Stars
There’s heavy, and then there’s Norna, a sort of post-metal supergroup, consisting of the Swedish guitarist and singer Tomas Liljedahl (Tera Tenebrosa, The Old Wind) and the Swiss duo of guitarist Chris Macquat and drummer Marc Theurillat (both from the band Ølten). The trio have recently penned a deal with the Oslo-based label Vinter Records […]
East Sister – Re-Meeting at the Fair
Six years after their first EP, Easter Sister at last deliver their debut album. “The Velvet Fair” was recorded in their hometown Lucerne and released on 4 February 2022 by Red Brick Chapel. It is a beguiling affair, featherlight in feel, subtle in execution and satisfyingly soothing in the effect it has on this listener, […]
Seven Hits a New Groove
It’s his 12th album, no wonder Seven no longer has any doubts about where he is going. “Ich bin mir sicher” is the album’s confidence-oozing title (“I’m sure of myself”). It was released on 4 February 2022 via sevenmusic and went straight in at number 6 in the Swiss charts. Actually, twenty years into a […]
Kings Elliot Creates “Chaos in Her Court”
Early December saw the release of singer/songwriter Kings Elliot’s debut EP proper, “Chaos in My Court”. Having signed a deal with Universal a couple of months ago, her music will be released via Verve in USA, Vertigo in Germany, Decca in the UK and other Universal labels in the rest of the world. Born and raised […]
Mario Batkovic Goes «Introspectio»
3 December 2021 saw the release of “Introspecio”, the second album by accordionist extraordinaire, Mario Batkovic, for the Bristol-based Invada Records. In the hands of Batkovic, the accordion rises far beyond the jollity we recognise from various forms of folk music or even the dramatic melancholy of a bandoneon-driven tango. Using an innovative five-finger technique, […]
