Merz (UK) / REA (CH)

20:00 REA
21:15 Merz

In 2019, Dampfzentrale Bern released its first album: «Dreams Of Sleep And Wakes Of Sound» by a trio featuring Merz, Laraaji and Shahzad Ismaily. The Dampfzentrale associated artist is now returning to Europe for a few concerts with a new solo programme, and thus also making his second appearance at Saint Ghetto (he played there as Merz back in 2013, feat. Sartorius Drum Ensemble).

The British artist Conrad Lambert, aka Merz, made a splash in the pop music scene at the end of the 1990s, earning himself a deal with the major label Epic/CBS Records. He soon fled the restrictive atmosphere of a corporate record label and picked the independent labels of Herbert Grönemeyer (Grönland Records) and Matthew Herbert (Accidental Records) to release his upcoming albums. Over the years, he has gradually become a self-made man, surviving without a manager and booking agent and doing everything he can himself. He lived in Bern from 2010 to 2017 before moving to the Californian city of Joshua Tree on the edge of the Mojave desert. We look forward to welcoming Merz back to his one-time home for a performance.

REA baptizes «Gói». Through her experimental pop music Rea Dubach creates a mystical blend of voice, field recordings, acoustic and electronic sound worlds. She has previously lived in Iceland and that along with her many years of experience as a sound buff and improviser can be heard in her songs. Her artistic work combines alert curiosity with an irrepressible desire to experiment, while conjoining improvisation with studio precision. An interdisciplinary focus is central to her work. It is reflected in her creativity as a singer, instrumentalist, composer, producer and performer, and the release of «Gói», her solo debut, as part of Saint Ghetto will be anything but a conventional concert.  «REA presents her solistic debut record laying down the luggage of a long-term travel. She takes us on a cinematic trip through foreign lands, dystopian electronica and hopeful poetry.» Well said.

Rea Dubach: Gesang, Electronics. Fra Zedde: Electronics. Yannick Mosimann: Installation