You are here
THE YOUNG GODS (CH) play the two debut albums
The Young Gods have been pushing the limits of sound for more than thirty years. They began as pioneers of industrial punk who flirted with surreal cabaret, and as sonic wizards they moved on to shamanize electro/techno music, all the while forging their own unique sound. In the process they became legends of the European scene.
Rewind...
During the winter of 1984-85, Franz Treichler and Cesare Pizzi redefined the grammar of rock using rudimentary machines. They were inhabited by an uncompromising, raw and poetic vision. Joined by drummer Frank Bagnoud, they fine-tuned the formula of the Young Gods. Their first concerts were like electroshocks. They featured voice, drums and sampler... and walls of guitar sounds, but without guitars: their music was unheard of. When the first eponymous album appeared in 1987, the British press heralded the phenomenon: "The Young Gods are the New Thing, they are what happens next ..." In the early 1990s, with Al Comet replacing Cesare Pizzi on samplers, the trio surfed the wave of alternative rock. The album “T.V. Sky”, with its single "Skinflowers" rotating on MTV, opened the doors of the United States. David Bowie, U2 and Nine Inch Nails began citing them as inspirations. Things accelerated at a frantic pace. So much so that it all became too much. In the early 2000s, the trio regrouped in Geneva, redefined its priorities, and moved closer to the effervescent electro / techno scene. Bernard Trontin replaced Üse Hiestand on drums.
... Fast forward!
The Young Gods celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2005 at the Montreux Jazz Festival, with the Sinfonietta orchestra of Lausanne and the singer Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr Bungle, Fantômas). They also spearheaded a myriad of multidisciplinary creations, for Swiss Expo.02, for the Geneva Science Museum, with anthropologist Jeremy Narby for “Amazonia Ambient Project”, or reinterpreting the legendary Woodstock concert of 1969… They also collaborated with alternative hip-hop group Dälek, and with the trio of improvisers Koch, Schütz & Studer. To date, The Young Gods have published more than 10 albums.
Unplug & replug
After releasing an acoustic album (“Knock on Wood”, 2008), which they took on tour, the trio turned their machines back on and recorded the fiery “Everybody Knows” (2010), with the support of a fourth member, flesh-and-blood guitarist Vincent Hänni. Then they performed their first two albums on stage, “The Young Gods” and “L'Eau rouge”, with Cesare Pizzi returning to his original place on samplers.
So what does the musical future of The Young Gods look like now? It started to take shape around Treichler, Pizzi and Trontin doing a public residence at the Cully Jazz Festival in 2015. At the time of writing, the Young Gods are no doubt a step ahead of any prognosis….
For festival Franz Treichler, Cesare Pizzi and Bernard Trontin have prepared a repertoire based on the first two albums "The Young Gods" (1987) and "L'eau rouge" (1989).
Young Gods is an exceptional band, their musical works unify individuals from under different banners, followers of different stylistics. Fans of different looks and age.
At the end of 80s, Young Gods redefined the language of contemporary music by rudimentary means. Innovation of the trio: Franz Treichler, Cesare Pizzi, Frank Bagnoud came from natural sources. Young Gods' set of instruments had nothing to do with mainstream pageantry. Direct force emanated – from the vocalist's expression, uncomplicated samplers, basic electronics and drum machine. At the beginnig,the band was supported by Roli Mosimann – producer and musician, ex-drummer in Swans, who – together with Jim Foetus – forms a duo Wiseblood. Starting from the name, from the very beginning to the very end, Young Gods are fire, storm and tempest. Their overall performance highlighted the poetics of austereness and unbridled energy. It emblazoned nature's primordial forces, flaring in the urban jungle. Young Gods embodied primal savagery confronted with civilisation. The music of YG carried Wagner-like power and affirmed the romantism of the heart of Europe. On albums The Young Gods and L’eau Rouge the artists proffered a marriage of the massive form of guitar industrial with experiment, not forgetting even about humour. YG successfully combined Anglo-Saxon, quasi hardrock heaviness with Franko-phonic sophistication. The concert at WIF is going to be focused on the material from the first two, brilliant albums of Young Gods. After the debut's success, YG continued to broaden their field of activity. Their music reached deeper into rock traditions, the band also won popularity in the USA. Young Gods today unite generations. It's worth remembering that YG visited Poland in times when this country was rather absent omitted while planning tour dates by west-european artists. Since that time, they have many devoted, sworn followers. (WS)