Sarah Buechi Contradiction of Happiness & Jena Philharmonic - The Paintress (August 20, 2021 INTAKT RECORDS)

They’ve taken to the skies – the chamber orchestra and the septet of Sarah Buechi – masterfully beyond all categorisation. The singer’s septet Contradiction of Happiness with piano, bass, drums and three string players is in itself already something of a polyphonic and liberated orchestra. Sarah Buechi has expanded this ensemble with the chamber orchestra of the Jena Philharmonic. The success of the first performance was overwhelming and the recordings on this album, which also took place in Jena, enable one to experience and relive the playful ease with which this ambitious project was accomplished. Classical intonation, Jazz vocalisations, chanting, microtones reminiscent of Indian music and Konnakol, rhythmic vocalisation – all these elements exist companionably in the compositions. "A music full of the joy of understanding," writes German jazz journalist Bert Noglik in the liner notes, "of the flapping of the wings of the poetic in the joint flight of the septet and the orchestra."

1. Creation

2. Lullaby (for Conan)

3. C-Void 91

4. Lion Heart

5. Precious Stone

6. Stets i Truure

7. Hungry Crocodiles

8. T.A.S. Mani

9. Nobody Knows (the future I`ve seen)

Sarah Buechi: Voice, Composition

Vincent Membrez: Piano

Wolfgang Zwiauer: E-Bass

Lionel Friedli: Drums

Estelle Beiner: Violin

Isabelle Gottraux: Viola

Sara Oswald: Cello

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JENA PHILHARMONIC: Simon Gaudenz, Conductor

Lyrics and compositions by Sarah Buechi (except “Stets i Truure”, trad./arr. S. Buechi). Recorded September 28 – 30, 2020 at Volkshaus Jena, Germany. Recording engineer: Moritz Wetter. Mixed by Moritz Wetter at Hardstudios Winterthur 2021. Mastered by Michael Brändli at Hardstudios Winterthur 2021. Cover art: Conor Flynn O’Donnell. Graphic design: Jonas Schoder. Liner notes: Bert Noglik. Produced by Sarah Buechi and Intakt Records, Patrik Landolt, Anja Illmaier, Florian Keller. Published by Intakt Records.

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Sarah Buechi - Contradiction of Happiness (INTAKT RECORDS 2108)

After Flying Letters and Shadow Garden, Sarah Buechi is releasing her third album on Intakt Records, Contradiction of Happiness. She has seized the opportunity to take her music in a new direction, and has augmented her superb quartet – with pianist Stefan Aeby, bassist André Pousaz and drummer Lionel Friedli – with the addition of three string players. 

"The results are extremely convincing." writes Manfred Papst in the liner notes. "She demonstrates once again that her compositions are far more than run-of-the mill songs with verses, rhymes and a chorus. They are ingeniously structured mini-dramas in which complex stories are told in a confined space. They are poetically dense, with vocal beauty and an enormous spectrum of expression. Their music is sophisticated, thoughtful, but also very sensual. The wonderful ‘After We’ve Kissed’ on the new album is the best example of this.“

Soundsamples of this CD

1. Child of Our Times 4:42

2. Never Enough 5:49

3. After We’ve Kissed 8:00

4. Fahamore (Paradise) 8:25

5. Wheel of Temptation 5:23

6. Here and Now 5:24

7. The Word 7:20

8. Snow Trail 7:03

9. Schönschte Obigst ärn (Trad .) 5:01

Sarah Buechi: Voice

Stefan Aeby: Piano

André Pousaz: Double Bass

Lionel Friedli: Drums

Estelle Beiner: Violin

Isabelle Gottraux: Viola

Sara Oswald: Cello

Lyrics and compositions by Sarah Buechi (except “Schönschte Obigstärn”, trad.). 

Recorded by Andy Neresheimer at Hardstudios Winterthur June 8, 9, 10, 2017, for SRF Kultur and Intakt Records. 

Mixed and mastered by Martin Ruch, Berlin. 

Cover art: Conor Flynn O’Donnell. Graphic design: Jonas Schoder. 

Photo: Lisa & Remo Ubezio. Liner notes: Manfred Papst.

Produced by Sarah Buechi and Intakt Records, Patrik Landolt. Published by Intakt Records