Quasimodo – Schachmatt (1982, LP, Switzerland)

Tracklist:
A1 Irland 5:05
A2 Ziit 5:10
A3 Umwältschutz 3:30
A4 Inseli 3:55
A5 Früelig 4:30
B1 Uf Dä Reis 7:20
B2 Am Wasser 4:30
B3 Wänn D'Musig Ghörsch 5:20
B4 Schachmatt 3:50

Musicians:
Bass – Kurt Meier
Drums – Kurt Willi
Guitar – Martin Widmer
Keyboards, Flute, Vocals – Werner Fehr
Vocals, Clarinet, Saxophone – Daniel Wagen

A rare and high-energy Jazz-Rock / Fusion gem from Switzerland. Released in 1982, Schachmatt is the only studio album by Quasimodo, a power-quartet that perfectly blends intricate progressive structures with aggressive fusion grooves.
The album is a must-listen for fans of technical drumming and melodic yet complex Bass lines. From soaring Guitar improvisations to tight ensemble playing, this record stands as a testament to the vibrant European underground fusion scene of the early 80s. A true collector's item for those digging into obscure European Progressive Rock and Jazz-Rock history.

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The Hat Shoes – Differently Desperate (1991, CD, Switzerland)

THE HAT SHOES, are yet another side group of both Charles Hayward and Tom Cora. The quartet consists of Bill Gilonis, Catherine Jauniaux, Charles Hayward and Tom Cora, with Hahn Rowe making guest appearances. Respective of the musicians' influences and backgrounds, their sound finds a familiar and homely atmosphere.
The group has only produced two albums. Their first "Differently Desperate" ['91], crafts quirky progressive pop made famous by Slapp Happy. While sugar coated in childish nonsense, the song writing is top notch, weaving vague melodies through deliberately complex patterns and arrangements. Creating a dissonant but digestible album.
After a ten-year hiatus, THE HAT SHOES make a triumphant return with 'Home' ['02]. The quartet now stripped down to Catherine Jauniaux, Bill Gilonis and [new guest member] Martin Spühler. The album flirts their distinctive persona while expanding a more percussive sound with Martin Spühler's personally made instruments.
THE HAT SHOES is bound to please fans of the lighter face of RIO. For the lover intelligent and thoughtfully prog with a touch of romanticism.

Schakta – Tales (1980, LP, Switzerland)

Tracklist:
A1 Providence 4:59
A2 Castle 4:55
A3 Magician 4:14
A4 The Demon 5:03
B1 Picture Of Tune 4:33
B2 Starlaser 6:22
B3 The Circuit Is Closed 3:03
B4 Allusion 6:01

Musicians:
Bass, Backing Vocals – Roland Schaffer
Drums – Michael Lehmann
Guitar, Vocals – Urs Maegert
Keyboards, Vocals – Christoph Mueller

Sisyphos – A Way To Express (1981, LP, Switzerland)

Tracklist:
A1 Emergency Exit 6:11
A2 A Rebel Is Not The Devil 6:17
A3 My Atonical Brain 5:10
A4 No Need Of You 4:46
B1 Windmills 7:53
B2 Night Of Fear 6:26
B3 Maybe 8:03

Musicians:
Bass – Hermann Peter
Drums, Vocals – Boris Bühler
Guitar, Backing Vocals – René Senn

Plamp – ...Und Überhaupt... (1978, LP, Switzerland)

Tracklist:
A1 Streiffzug 3:37
A2 Schwälbali 7:41
A3 Arwen 10:13
B1 Serum 2:34
B2 Arcas 8:24
B3 Behind 6:29
B4 Luzern 4:13

Musicians:
Bass, Vocals – Andrea Thöny
Cello, Solo Vocal – Fortunat Frölich
Drums – Louis Streiff
Flute, Concert Flute, Soprano Saxophone, Vocals – Mario Giovanoli
Guest, Alto Saxophone – Thomas Barfuss
Guest, Soprano Saxophone – Simon Schneller
Guest, Tenor Saxophone – Toni Schädler
Guitar, Vocals – Peter Tönz
Organ, Electric Piano, Grand Piano – Peter Streiff

Island – Pyrrho (2005, 2xCD, Switzerland)

CD 1 - Home Recording, 1975, in Windlach / Raat (Switzerland)
1-14. Pyrrho (39:04)

CD 2 - Live Version, 1976, in Africana St. Gallen (Switzerland)
1-24. Pyrrho (45:23)

Musicians:
CD 1
Peter Scherer / keyboards, vocals
Dani Ruhle / guitar, vocals
Guge Meier / drums, percussion, vocals
Egon Eggler / bass, vocals
Beni Jager / lead vocals, percussion

CD 2
Peter Scherer / keyboards, vocals
Beni Jager / lead vocals, percussion
Guge Meier / drums, percussion, vocals
Rene Fisch / saxophone, vocals
Alfio Sacco / bass, vocals

Great archival private-press Island album, which shows the band's evolution in a couple of years.CD1 sees the band performing the 40-min. ''Pyrrho'' suite (a home studio recording) with guitarist Dani Rühle (and bassist Egon Eggler), so the music is actually GENESIS-influenced Symphonic Progressive, lots of similarities to ENGLAND, plenty of smooth Hammond organ, Moog synthesizer, mellow electric leads and solid vocals in English.Great piece with superb instrumental complexities.In 1976 Island performed this track on stage (CD2) with Rühle/Eggler gone and new members Alfio Sacco on bass and René Fisch on sax.So the same track was captured in a guitar-less version with the sax taking advantage and now the acoustics are somewhere between GENESIS and VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR!The organ filling is often phenomenal.The complete evolution of Island (both guitar-less and bass-less sound!) can be heard in their official ''Pictures'' album. (apps79)

Dragonfly – Dragonfly (1981, CD, Switzerland)

Tracklist:
1. Behind the spider's web (5:08)
2. Shellycoat (7:08)
3. You know my ways ( I belong to you) (3:49)
4. Willing and ready to face it all (5:15)
5. Dragonfly (18:27)
Bonus tracks
6. Humdinger (7:02)
7. The riddle princess (15:41)

Musicians:
Bass – Patrick Baumgartner (6)
Bass, Backing Vocals, Pedalboard [Taurus] – Klaus Moennig (1 to 5, 7)
Drums – Beat Bösiger (1 to 5, 7)
Guitar – Marcel Ege
Lead Vocals, Percussion – René Bühler (1 to 5, 7)
Organ [Hammond C3], Clavinet, Synthesizer [ARP - Oberheim], Grand Piano [Steinway] – Markus Husi

Circus – Circus (1976, SHM-CD, Switzerland)

Tracklist:

1 Stormsplinter 2:48
2 Nowadays 10:44
3 Sundays 6:54
4 Dawntalk 5:07
5 Room For Sale 14:55
6 Winterghosts (Star) 6:36

Musicians:
Bass, Pedalboard, Guitar – Marco Cerletti
Drums, Vibraphone – Fritz Hauser
Flute – Andreas Grieder
Vocals, Guitar [6-string], Twelve-String Guitar [12-string], Tenor Saxophone – Roland Frei

Note:
Track 6 is a bonus track

Recorded at Studio Harald Blobel, Bottmingen, April 76

Issued in Mini LP vinyl replica with original insert replica and Japanese folded insert.

Circus – Movin' On (1977, SHM-CD, Switzerland)

Tracklist:
1 The Bandsman 4:29
2 Laughter Lane 4:14
3 Loveless Time 5:40
4 Dawn 7:59
5 Movin' On 22:29
6 Don't Want To Be Fooled Again 11:01

Musicians:
Bass, Pedalboard, 12-String Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Marco Cerletti
Drums, Vibraphone, Percussion – Fritz Hauser
Flute, Tambourine, Alto Saxophone, Vocals – Andreas Grieder
Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Tenor Saxophone – Roland Frei

Note:
Track 6 is a bonus track

Recorded at Sinus Studio, Berne, May 1977

Issued in Mini LP vinyl replica with original booklet replica and Japanese folded insert.

Circus All Star Band – Live (1978, SHM-CD, Switzerland)

Tracklist:
1 Eight Miles On A Highway 10:57
2 Drivin' Wheel 6:05
3 Andante Maestoso / Rondo Furioso 5:48
4 Augusta Rauricorum 20:54
5 Swingin' On A TIght Rope 9:03

Musicians:
Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Roland Frei
Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Alan Solomon
Bass – Marco Cerletti
Congas, Drums – Ditschgi Gutzwiller
Congas, Other [Stage Announcements], Percussion, Vocals – Polo Hofer
Drums – Fritz Hauser
Flute, Alto Saxophone – Andreas Grieder
Guitar – Eric Flückiger, Shiver Schafer
Keyboards, Producer, Composed By – Stephan Ammann
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Theodor Jost
Vocals – Corina Curschellas, Kathryn Gurewitsch

Note:

Track 5 is a bonus track

Recorded live at the Volkshaus Zurich and the Hotel National Berne on january 26th and 27th 1978 with the "Maison Rouge" Mobile Studio London. Mixed at Sinus Studio Berne. Written on cover: "The tracks on this album are excerpts from the concerts we did with the All Star Band in Zurich and Berne 1978. These concerts have been a first step to improve the communication between Swiss Pop-, Rock- and Folkgroups. We hope you enjoy the music as much as the Circus All Star Band enjoyed performing it."

Issued in Mini LP vinyl replica with Japanese folded insert. SHM-CD

Circus – Fearless Tearless And Even Less (1980, SHM-CD, Switzerland)

Tracklist:
1 The Night Step 3:53
2 Leave It Or Love It 7:46
3 Berlin 5:14
4 Fearless, Tearless And Even Less... 4:19
5 Hearts And Spaces 9:54
6 Manaslu 12:30

7 Keybreak 6:08
8 Overture 4:13

Musicians:

Drums, Vibraphone, Xylophone – Fritz Hauser

Electric Organ [Hammond C-3], Synthesizer – Stephan Ammann

Fretless Bass, Electric Bass, Guitar, Vocals – Marco Cerletti

Lead Vocals, Tenor Saxophone, Guitars – Roland Frei

Note:

Tracks 7 and 8 are bonus live tracks, recorded at Stadttheater Basel March 11, 1980

Recorded and mixed at Trident Studios, London, England, March 1980

Issued in Mini LP vinyl replica with Japanese folded booklet. SHM-CD.

Skeleton Crew – Live Im Kulturkeller Würzburg 10/82 (1982, Cassette, Switzerland)

Live at the Kulturkeller in Würzburg, Germany, October 1982
Cassette released by Rec Rec Music, Zürich, 1984

Tracklist:
1. Side A (21:42)
2. Side B (20:19)

Musicians:

Fred Frith: guitar, violin, keyboards, bass drum, hi-hat, tapes, voice

Tom Cora: cello, bass guitar, homemade drums, vocals

Dave Newhouse: saxophone, drum kit

The show is actually a succession of short tracks with Skeleton Crew performing unparalleled and unequaled complex instrumental songs, disrupting common songwriting schemes whatsoever and particularly normal live performance configuration. Dave Newhouse of The Muffins is joining on saxophone and additional drums, though the
core duo of Frith+Cora was able to perform on several instruments at the same time as evidenced on their innumerable other live recordings. The musical irony in Skeleton Crew is comparable only to Negativland’s first LPs of the same period. For instance, at 6:30 in side A, a John Philip Sousa symphonic march is played as ironic background noise and at 18:00, Ronald Reagan is heard backward reading his famous quote: ‘We’re still free in America’. Additionaly, the trio is able to find its way through various musical genres, passages in this live recording verging on the experimental, noise or concrète music, while elsewhere the music is blues, avant rock or system music. Occasionaly, a song from their first 1984 LP ‘Learn to Talk’ is played in a more or less recognizable form. There is a possibility this cassette was issued as a parallel release with their first album to gather them more tour dates especially in Europe. These guys were undubitably great showmen. Cora died 1998. Thanks to HC Earwicker for the music. (continuo.wordpress)

UnknownmiX – Domina Dea (1991, CD, Switzerland)