Bad Bonn Kilbi, Düdingen – 30 May – 1 June 2019
“Kilbi” is a Swiss German word for fun fair. Which is pretty accurate as far as the “fun” bit goes. We feel pretty certain, however, that no other fun fair in the world has a musical programme quite as exciting as the Bad Bonn Kilbi in Düdingen. For most of the year, Bad Bonn is simply a […]
SME at The Great Escape – 09 – 11 May 2019
An artfully ramshackle English seaside town; hordes of unkempt youths with guitars strapped to their backs; armies of beady-eyed seagulls out to steal our sandwiches; and enough music to last the rest of the year and beyond – what’s not to like? That’s right, it’s Brighton time again, time for The Great Escape. We’re pretty […]
Electron Genève – 25 April – 5 May 2019
The electronic music scene is thriving in the French part of Switzerland, and with Electron Genève it has created one of the most important gatherings of the European electronica world. Headlined this year by the likes of Laurent Garnier, Adam X and Maya Jane Coles, the festival brings together dozens of established artists as well […]
Hyperculte are massively occidental
Geneva-based Hyperculte are double-bassist Vincent Bertholet (also the pilot of the beautifully anarchic “big band” Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp) and drummer/guitarist/singer Simone Aubert (also with Tout Bleu and Massicot). Three years after their stunning debut follows their next strike, an equally gripping second album entitled “Massif Occidental”. Hyperculte make brilliant records. They also offer […]
Vsitor Keep on Running
No, it’s not the old Spencer Davis hit, sung by Stevie Winwood. It’s the debut album by Vsitor (sic), the partly Berlin-based trio of David Koch (guit, vox, keyb, bass), Lea Maria Fries (vox, synth bass), and Valentin Liechti (percussion, vox). Calling their style “Avant Pop/Slow Core/Electronica/No Wave”, they promise an “11 song meditation on […]
Sandor goes international
Sandor is a female singer/songwriter from Lausanne whose synth-pop is melodically rooted in the French chanson tradition as well as contemporary artists like Etienne Daho. Sandor develops a very personal musical universe, sweet and sour at the same time, inspired by the synthetic pop of the 80’s. With her strong and solemn voice, she presents a […]
Heavy, heavier, Xaon
Dark metal combo Xaon caused quite a stir globally with their debut album, “The Drift”. Their second long player “Solipsis”, released worldwide on 12 April on the Danish specialist dark metal label Mighty Music, further ups the ante. Having toured alongside the likes of Sirenia and TYR in Europe, Obscura and Archspire in Japan, and […]
The Vogel flies
A harpist by trade, singer/songwriter Linda Vogel wrote the songs of her album “Maps to Others” in a place called Finistère – “the end of the world” – on the shores of the Atlantic. Aided by drummer and composer, Vincent Glanzmann, Linda Vogel, with her harp and her voice, creates an eerie and yet muscular music with […]
Holm go through windows
Holm are a sort of Zurich super-group, consisting of Alessandro Giannelli (drums, Egopusher), Dimitri Käch (guitar, film composer, various bands), and James Varghese (bass, Diskret, Ex-Odd Beholder). Their first album, “Through Windows”, was released on 26 April on Quiet Love Records (Switzerland) and Salvation Records (UK) – where it has already been picked up and […]
Ikarus flying high
“Mosaismic”, the new, third album by the young Zurich-based quintet Ikarus, was released on 5 April via Ronin Rhythm Records. The house label of zen-funk pianist Nik Bärtsch and related acts is a guarantee for intriguing, complex and often mesmerising music. Ikarus are no different. What makes them so fascinating is their use of the […]
