Steamboat Switzerland — Wertmüller
Steamboat Switzerland is a … Swiss trio featuring Dominik Blum on organ, Marion Pliakas on bass and Lucas Nigli on drums. Prior to this new one, they have already released two full-lengths. For Wertmüller, they have worked with drummer Michael …Wertmüller. The man plays on the record and is also the sole composer of the music. The lyrics are taken off five poems from Michael Lenz and sung by Daniel Lieder (Alboth!).
The music is rather difficult to categorize. It’s definitely rock. Even psyche rock – I guess the Hammond organ and the repetitive parts make it sound a bit like Oneida. It’s also very progressive – Ruins and Magma anyone? It’s also a bit jazzy – Zu, take note. Actually, given the energy and the "rock on" sound, maybe this trio is Grob’s Motörhead?
Quite a few Grob releases are improvised music. Wertmüller seems to have been composed rather carefully and recorded by musicians who were completely absorbed by their music. Everything seems necessary, nothing is out of place. It might sound frantic, it might sound punky, it is ultimately rather intellectual. And to have brainy music sound like coming from the guts, you have to be good. Steamboat Switzerland are really good.