With their new album “PRIVATE POP” the band „Lyn Leon“ present their third CD, staging their release tour in Germany and Switzerland in November/ December 2005.

 

Catchy and profound

 

A wondrous voice, subtle images and beats of intriguing calm. That is the realm of PRIVATE POP – and the tunes are very catchy indeed. A multi-layered structure, however, underlies this attractive surface. Lyn Leon’s songs tend to move in private spheres. Singer Carolyn Leonhart’s meandering pop melodies establish a fine balance between intensive clarity and bewitchingly lascivious directness. The two supporting musicians and masters of sound Stephan Diethelm and Matthias Eser take care of the tonal magic. Their radiating sound patterns contrast with the pounding beats, resulting in fascinating aural sculptures of surreal beauty. PRIVATE POP has a dramatic undercurrent that, with every song, carries one further on an acoustic journey that does not end with the final song ‘Touch of Angels’.

 

Transatlantic alliance

 

It is not merely a spectacular band-history that unites the three members of the band in a classical sense. Rather, what is amazing about their transatlantic alliance is the fact that they have been working together for almost ten years now. There is, for one, vocalist Carolyn Leonhart from New York. Her home are the jazz clubs of the Big Apple, with a feel for jazz and pop having been laid into her cradle. She has toured all over the world with the US-band “Steely Dan” and at an early stage was invited to Japan to record solo CDs. And then there are her accompanying musicians Stephan Diethelm and Matthias Eser. The two percussionists provide the richness of the European musical tradition. Even more surprising is how well-balanced and finely tuned the music of Lyn Leon presents itself on their third album PRIVATE POP. Of further appeal are drummer and programmer Marco Argovino’s influences, who also acted as co-producer of some of the songs. It goes without saying that the two bass players Wolfgang Zwiauer and Marco Blöchlinger as well as drummer Kaspar Rast contribute greatly to moulding the sound of PRIVATE POP into what it is. Their congenial playing skills establish the songs’ pulsating drive.

 

With glass to new sounds

 

“Soft, unfamiliar music of tender beauty,” jazz critic Christian Rentsch wrote about Lyn Leon’s musical style. Vocals, percussion and sounds produce a smooth blend of remarkable musical artistry. The atmosphere is relaxed, the songs are melodious and the melodies catchy. First there is Carolyn Leonharts warm and mellow voice, making the subtly profound lyrics radiate with lasciviously dynamic energy. Let yourself be seduced by the sophisticated sound patterns, which mainly stem from instruments made of glass. The rubbing of glasses for instance creates a kind of floating, hovering singing, while glass-marimbas, if shaken, have an unexpectedly bright sound to them. Many of these instruments have been specially designed and developed for Lyn Leon in co-operation with the glass-blowing works at Hergiswil. 

 

Lyn Leon thrive as audience response increases

 

Lyn Leon’s music is causing a major stir among audiences. Thanks to their co-operation with the German record company SPV (since 2004), PRIVATE POP will be released not only in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, but also in Holland, France and the US. A sweeping success has been the “Al Jarreau-Tour 2004” with Lyn Leon as guest performers. In summer 2004, Lyn Leon was supporting act at the “Peter Gabriel Open Air” in Kaiserslautern.

 

Relaxed and polished

A mellow voice and cool sounds. LYN LEON provide both. In their suitcase they’re also carrying their new CD GLASS LOUNGE. In this lounge time and space are forgotten - letting oneself sink into a chair and get carried along by the musical current is the slogan.

The trance-engendering sweetness springs from singer Carolyn Leonhart’s vocal artistry. At once bewitchingly lascivious and dynamically energetic she sings stories of passing passions and tender love-tides. Yet more fascination is in the intricate sound patterns and the moving and, at times, trendy beats.

In this way the lounge presents itself in an ever-changing acoustic décor. The result, however, are always sophisticated sounds of surreal beauty

There is no classical band-history they can offer; Lyn Leon are far from being ordinary anyway. There is, for one, vocalist Carolyn Leonhart from New York. Her home are the clubs of that world capital, jazz and pop having been laid in her cradle. And then there are her two accompanying musicians, Stephan Diethelm and Matthias Eser. The two percussionists live in the Swiss ‘Mittelland’, had had classical training and have since played themselves through virtually all world rhythms. All the more exciting will it be when the three team up - musically.

With glass to new sounds

"Soft, unfamiliar music of tender beauty," jazz critic Christian Rentsch described the result in the Tages-Anzeiger. With Lyn Leon, singing, percussion and sounds produce a smooth blend of remarkable musical artistry. The atmosphere is relaxed, the songs are melodious and catchy. Despite its calm and mellow sound texture their new CD Glass Lounge comes with some neat if not to say respectable pop grooves. First there is Carolyn Leonhart’s warm voice. At once bewitchingly lascivious and dynamically energetic she sings stories of passing passions and tender love-tides. Then there are the sophisticated sounds that take us away to the realms of melancholy. They mainly stem from instruments made of glass. So, the rubbing of wine glasses creates a kind of floating singing, while glass-marimbas surprise with bright sounds. Many of the instruments used by the musicians have been specially designed and developed in co-operation with the glass-blowing works at Hergiswil The glass as material, however, remains in the background, it just provides the basis for a new sound.

Singer takes home Grammy awards

Behind the seeming lightness lies hidden what may be called a profound musical skill. In recent years, the two percussionists Stephan Diethelm and Matthias Eser have again and again attracted wide attention with outstanding musical projects, e.g. when working with the classical flutist Matthias Ziegler or with jazz pianist Christoph Baumann. The New Yorker singer Carolyn Leonhart, for her part, has been granted an honour of the highest order in pop music: With the Band Steely Dan she has been awarded no less than three Grammies this year. For their current live performances the three musicians are supported by bass-player Marco Blöchlinger und drummer Marco Agovino - both equally renowned in our musical landscape. Together they fill the Glass Lounge with relaxed excitement.

What once began will go on

Stephan Diethelm and Matthias have been using glass in their music for quite some time now. Eight years ago, as members of the Swiss Percussion Ensemble and with the help of the glass-blowing works at Hergiswil, the two had put together a large number and range of musical instruments from glass objects. The programme they had at the time, Gravitational Sound - Shimmering Force, was followed three years ago by the CD Glass Songs, enhanced by the voice of Carolyn Leonhart. And now, under the name of Lyn Leon the project has, for the time being at least, reached the end of this development. The new CD is the consistent continuation of Glass Songs, yet Glass Lounge does still lead in a new direction - and presents songs of almost surreal beauty."

Mark Livingston