It’s out. The 4th edition of WEST FM, le podcast has just hit the soundcloud platform. Very happy to welcome WhiteVal, an artist that did a lot of good music in Europe and in the USA. A great artist with inspiration and magic in her hands. Check the guitar soli. Thanks WhiteVal for that piece of chat and for the “Voices” in the head.
A Mixture of Swiss Music to end 2017
On the December 2017 Swiss Music Show, David and Catherine picked six tracks to play and discuss. It’s an eclectic choice with new music from Grandbrothers, to Eliana Burki, a Swiss artist that has been around for a while.
Other bands and artists mentioned are the following: Mister Milano, Fai Baba, Vendredi Sur Mer, and Cilia Hunch.
These picks make for an interesting discussion as Catherine and David don’t always agree with each others’ choices!
Photo above – David Glaser
David’s choice, Mister Milano – Alta Clotura
David’s choice, Fai Baba – Why do I feel so alone?
David’s choice, Vendredi sur Mer, Les Filles Désir
Photo above – Catherine Nelson-Pollard
Catherine’s choice, Grandbrothers – Bloodflow
Catherine’s choice, Eliana Burki – Vacuum Funk
Catherine’s choice, Unplugged with a View, Cilia Hunch, The World Hates
An Eclectic Mix of Music for November: Urban Junior, Mad Manoush, The Halay Lamba
Winter update from the Swiss Music Show
Back in the summer David Glaser headed off to the Pully for Noise festival. One artist that caught his eye was that of Urban Junior. Urban is from Zurich and is signed on the Bernese label Voodoo Rhythm. David says, ” The Swiss German cantons in Switzerland have produced many interesting rock projects in recent years including that of Puts Marie and plenty of others. But the originality of one-man-band Urban Junior, is what piqued my interest.
According to David:
“The guy himself is rather eccentric, but creates interesting and strange sounds with all his instruments – a bit of a rarity in the Swiss music landscape. There are many punk references hidden in the layers of his compositions and his album “Music for the Asses” (a reference to the superb album of Depeche Mode “Music for the Masses”), is an inventive and fresh bubble in a world of music increasingly segmented and pre-fabricated for the youth.
The music of Urban is very rich. Call it rock, blues-trash, electro new wave, disco death or electrical punkabilly, basically it’s a gigantic mixture, a beautiful sound mashup. Not only is he a one man band and musically does everything himself but he is also in charge of the rest of his art, from art-work to merchandising.
Urban Junior is the protégé of the Voodoo Rhythm’s boss Beat Zeller. Beat, otherwise know as Reverend Beat-Man also performs as a one-man band. Both of the guys are fans of rock and blues and include these genres in their live appearances.Urban Junior’s videos are small pieces of visual freedom full of poetic licence, funny and sometimes hilarious such as “Hot Shit From Switzerland” (see below) or nonsense songs such as one sung with children. “Ha Ha Ha Ha” recalls the binary rhythm of The White Stripes”.
For more info and dates of future Urban Junior shows click here
Meanwhile Catherine has been listening to the sound of Mad Manoush’s 2013 album Train to New Orleans.
Catherine says “Their electro/ swing/ gypsy/ upbeat style can brighten up many a dark winter’s day”.
The band themselves are currently in the Canton of Argau, although founder of the band violinist Egon Egemann grew up in the Styrian mountains near the Slovenian and Hungarian border. Egemann plays a mean violin in a mixture of jazz, celtic , balkan, klezmer and latin American music.
Photo above Egon Egemann – courtesy Mad Manoush
Their band’s first album Train to New Orleans
Check out other music, videos and latest projects of Mad Manoush here
And finally, a small shout out to the band “The Halay Lamba”. Catherine spotted them playing in Sion in the Canton of Valais one week-end and although the band themselves are from Greece, they are currently making their way busking and playing through Switzerland. Keep an eye out for them if they are in your town. Hear their track “Afghan Song” on this video below.
Photo above – The Halay Lamba busking in and basking in the Swiss sun in Sion.
Swing and Spring music – from Klischée to Rocky Wood
It’s officially Spring here in Switzerland! Not only are many Swiss bands diving in to the new season with lots of vigour but they are preparing for summer music tours, releasing new albums and composing new music. There’s lots of good music on offer at the moment.
One sound that recently caught Catherine’s eye and ear, is the melodious and intriguing voice of Romina Kalsi, one of the vocalists from band Rocky Wood. This band currently live between Lugano and Berlin and call themselves an “Alt-Folk influenced Swiss-American pop band”. All band members Theabio Besomi, Romina Kalsi, and Roberto Pianca, play several instruments and sing. Check out this video below of “Blind Hawaii” from the band’s album “Shimmer”. A track to sit back and truly chill out to. They have several dates lined up to perform in Switzerland in April, from Nyon to Olten to Solothurn. A band to watch.
As a complete contrast if you fancy a bit of Swing, jazz (and a lot of pizazz!) check out these two videos of Swiss Band Klischée with the track “Tin Tin”.
Photo above -Klischéé –Pressebild © Sebastian Magnani,
The first video is their official video and the second is from one of their live performances at the Bierhuebeli concert hall in Bern. It kicks off with Swing and morphs into a Roots-Reggae sound. This band have given over 100 live performances to date and by the look of this second video, they are definitely one to see live! To find out more about this band and their music, see their website here.