Brandnew Equality Platform for Swiss Music
Women as well as non-binary, trans and inter people have long been marginalised in the Swiss music world. Launched by the self-help organisation Helvetiarockt, a new internet platform and data base, musicdirectory.ch, is designed to fill this gap. Helvetiarockt was formed in 2009 specifically to further the cause of women in the Swiss music business. […]
Call of the Sirens
“Most appealing”, thought BBC Radio 6 DJ, the revered Don Letts. His colleague, Tom Ravenscroft, was an early supporter. Another colleague, Lauren Laverne, soon followed suit: “Wetting my appetite, wanna know more about them”, she said, introducing the track “Waltz”. “Led by the angelic harmonies of sisters Jasmina and Nabyla Serag”, wrote UK music mag […]
Zeal & Ardor Call for Action
“Wake of a Nation” is the title of a new EP from the Gospel/Metal outfit Zeal & Ardor. It was rush-released on 23 October 2020 as a comment on the disturbing rise in racist attacks and related incidents in the United States and Europe. “If I were to berate you and say you’re wrong for […]
Louis Jucker Does Something Right
“Something Went Wrong” is the rather misleading title of singer/songwriter and self-proclaimed “punk-activist” Louis Jucker’s latest album. It was released on 30 October on Hummus Records, a label founded by Jucker himself with the purpose of supporting like-minded artists and friends, in, around and way beyond his hometown, the small watch-making city of La-Chaux-de-Fonds on […]
Nadja Zela Recovers Her Voice
Four years ago, in her grief after the sudden death of her husband, Nadja Zela was no longer able to sing. Struggling to recover some sort of equilibrium, she sought solace in music, more specifically, music of all kinds that dealt with death and grieving. After two difficult years, the urge and ability to sing […]
Kacimi Switches on the “Gyrophare”
The new album from Genevan pop activist Kacimi, “Gyrophare”, was released on 30 October 2020 via Echo Orange/Chante et tais-toi/Le Pop Club Records. It is an album title for our times: a gyrophare is the rotating or flashing light on an emergency vehicle. In contrast to the urgency of the title, however, Kacimi approaches his […]
Eclecta Bowing Out on a High
After nine years together, Marena Whitcher and Andrina Bollinger, aka Eclecta, have decided to go their separate ways. Far from bowing out quietly, however, they are saying goodbye with a peach of an album. Entitled “Open Other Doors”, it hits the shops on 6 November via TOURBOmusic and is distributed by Kontor New Media and […]
Dirty Sound Magnet Live Alert!
Dirty Sound Magnet have packed three years’ worth of solid touring into one high-octane package of live rock’n’roll to rattle the rafters. “Live Alert” comes out on 6 November 2020 via Hummus Records. Dirty Sound Magnet are an old-school guitar/bass/drums power trio. Mixing in a large can of psychedelic colours as well as a hint […]
Timothy Jaromir Feeling Homesick
“Hiraeth” is Welsh and means for “homesickness” and “nostalgia”. It is also the title of the new album from globetrotting singer/songwriter Timothy Jaromir, released in all formats, including a special vinyl edition, on 6 November 2020 on Vissen Records/Little Jig Records. Timothy’s father arrived in Switzerland in 1968 as a refugee from the Russian invasion […]
Convulsif Go “Extinct”
Rarely has a band chosen a better name for itself. And rarely has an album title been more misleading. “Extinct” is Convulsif’s fifth album, and it offers up veritable maelstrom of brutal vitality. “Noise/doom/metal with violin, bass clarinet, drums and bass guitar”, offers the PR-blurb by way of an introduction, followed by: “’Extinct” is an […]
