Nowfrago — In Love With The Blackbird

For many years, the Swiss-multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Matthias Gunsch aka nówfrago has been writing and producing enchanting melodies. To evolve them to complex songs nówfrago has been collecting sounds from many regions of the world such as bagpipe-playing in Copenhagen, breaking ice from the Gorner glacier and goats from remote areas of Sardegna. He has lived and worked on his music in the deserted north of Norway and in the remotest valleys of the Alps. Due to former self-doubt in his composition and singing skills, his first two albums never found their way to the public.

How fortunate that he has left his years of hesitation behind him: With his first release, the astonishing`In Love With The Blackbird`nówfrago opens with a true masterpiece.

nówfrago creates songs that sound dark and euphoric at the same time. His playful but very concrete soundcarpets are reminiscent of some of the fine Trip-Hop-exponents, of musique concrète and of contemporary songwriters like Patrick Watson or Beck.

`In Love With The Blackbird` (Zoey Records / Godbrain) is a creative DIY album. It has been produced by nówfrago and recorded at various locations including his more humble bedroom and a noisy appartment in the heart of Zurich. Drums, percussion, melodica, keyboards and more have been played by him in his own studio. The production costs have been covered by his own financing and contribution from crowdfunders. The cover has been serigraphed by his own hand. But of course a lot of nice people have been involved in the success of the album:

The very busy musician and sound-engineer Slade Templeton (Defunct! / Crying Vessel) who put his leadvocals in the well-known influx-Studios on tape and also did the mixing and the mastering of the songs; the pianist, Maja Nydegger (Akku Quintett, Blaer); the (upright) bassplayer, Valentin von Fischer (Hot Club de Berne); as well as trombone player, Julia Rüffert (Rosenzweig Orchestra / Low Brass Experience); violinist and singer Eleonora Stassi; and his "old" dukush-companions Nicole Widmer (Vox on `You ShallOvercome`) and Christian Caspar (guitar on `Milwausea`) all of whom enrich the album with their talent and skills.