Swiss folk music in a modern context - interpretations with relish and original instrumentations.

ethno and world music are today's hype.
but most of us know more about bengal accordion players or chinese violas da gamba than about Swiss ethno music. We're about to change this as «eCHo» frees old Swiss folk songs from their dust and transpose them into contemporary music (Tages Anzeiger)

«eCHo» - a band formed around Dide Marfurt multi-instrumentalist and producer - interpret more or lesser known Swiss folk songs without ever sticking to a pattern. They will move you out of traditional listening habits again and again.
 
but it's the voices that are prominent and unique!
Christine Lauterburg, the excellent singer and yodeller from Berne meets Corin Curschellas, a genuine "world-musician" with Rhaeto-Romanic roots and an inspired vocalist, and they are joined by Walter Lietha, who has himself a profound knowledge of the old folk songs. Many will enjoy hearing his ever so beautiful voice again. These three together blend into something extraordinary.
 
The three singers are accompanied by a band of five (Doppelbock) offering an immense and incredible sonority, being able to work up to an unusual and intense sound layer. Sometimes they are substantially voluminous, sometimes scarcely a cappella. Old folk songs sound suddenly exotic, strange and yet ever so familiar. Sometimes you'd think that you're listening to a pop song, before finding yourself confronted to something more of a jazz ballad. Some of these songs are commonly known from school or childhood singing, others might have been discovered exclusively in special songbooks. Their content is all about life, love and death - classic themes of folk music translated into most beautiful verse. Some songs date back from five hundred, others are as recent as fifty years ago, that is if they can be dated at all. But their age or origin is not that important as their simple existence can be regarded as our own's culture patrimony. These songs are interpreted according to today's life, mixing African rhythms, jazzy guitar riffs, sounds of the medieval shawms and swiss bagpipes, pop harmonies, as well as light-hearted accordion tunes accompanied by a wistful hurdy-gurdy or bouncy djembes.

 

The new CD!
Schnitter - i hole di o
Narrenschiff-Label Nar2007037

The CDs title could be described as : the grim reaper - i'll catch you too : songs of, with and about death. a flotsam of five hundred years reunited and reinterpreted in today's manner by «eCHo». a musical picture book - full of sense, of humour, darkness and cheek

 

Translation: Regula Sebastiao