Ruedi Häusermann, Marco Käppeli, Claude Meier

2010 release ** "One of the most hypnotic current albums comes from Switzerland: No wonder, given that so many exciting niches live here, where culture and mentality stand for free spirit, which is evident time and again in the music created there. Ruedi Häusermann, Marco Käppeli, and Claude Meier form what we might call a chamber music, folkloristic, and imaginary trio. In the broadest sense... Ruedi Häusermann, the initiator and creator of the Ume songs, uses various flutes, clarinets, baritone saxophone, as well as the Swiss accordion, a kind of mini-harmonium. Percussionist Marco Käppeli plays the drums and xylophone, as well as the Asa Chan, an elliptical metal instrument common in Thai folk music, but reinvented in Switzerland in 2000 as the "Hang-Hang." It's reminiscent of a Caribbean steel drum, but can be played much more gently and with a more sing-song quality. Claude Meier plays the bass with a primal force, as if it were meant to shake the deepest crevices of rock."