The début album of the Bambusbär band reveals surprising moments

A new band is making its appearance. But only the name is really new. Some of the members are old acquaintances in the Zug music scene.

Plucked guitar strings, trumpet and piano sounds that remind you of Latin American, together with gentle vocals. This is how the title song "Elba" by the Bambusbär (lit. Panda: ed) band sounds in their début album of the same name. "Uf dem Stolperwäg nach Marciana, het eus promt es Ungetüm verschluckt und furt vo dem schöne Panorama, ine wisse Schleier ie verpackt", (on the stony path to Marciana, the monster promptly swallowed us up and drove away from the beautiful panorama, wrapped in a white veil), sings bandleader Troubadueli.

Many of the 13 songs on "Elba" tell of everyday situations and stories that mark people’s life. All the songs on the album were written by Ueli Stampfli, who has already had experience in this: he’s now been on the road as a solo artist for 16 years, under his alias "Troubadueli" and has helped shape the Central Swiss dialect music scene as a songwriter., Troubadueli is now opening a new musical chapter with the Bambusbär band.

Photo 1: The Rock the Docks festival on 7 September 2019 in Zug with Bambusbär on stage    Photo: Roger Zbinden,  Zug
Phjoto 2: They are Bambusbär (from left): Lenz Gnos, Pascal Seeberger, Stefan Keiser, Ueli Stampfli, Manuel Meienberg and Oliver Lanninger.
Photo: Lukas Schnurrenberger
 

The members have actually known each other for some time
"Actually, five of us were on the road as a band a long time ago," says Troubadueli over coffee. Until a good ten years ago, they stood together on local stages as Burning Drop. The members were also part of other formations, such as Frankie and the Cheese, Stuberein, Oals, Fratelli B, Troimer and Weibello and the Gang.

"It wasn't until 2018 that we re-joined forces and brought in a new guitarist," says Troubadueli happily. “Mit emne Stapel voll Lieder, Ideä und Träum, gaht’s hüt i d’Galsche,, und nume dank eu, mine alte Kollege, mier bliibed enand treu, d'Lascht e chli liechter und Alts wieder neu”, we then also learn in the intro on the "Elba" album.

Bambusbär worked on the musical arrangements for two years until the 13 songs were finally recorded in autumn 2020 at The-Sweet-Spot studio in Baar. "We recorded the basic structure of 12 of the 13 album titles live together. For the title song ‹Elba›, we were able to find an accomplished wind player in Niki Jäger." The recordings of the song "Sounde" were made during the pandemic, when Bambusbär could not make music together. "Every member recorded his part at home. Then we put together the individual tracks. A special experience, and I'm particularly pleased that this piece has also made it onto the album."

Bambusbär packs Swiss German lyrics into reggae beats with influences from folk, pop, world music and electronic elements. Among the 13 songs there are always surprising moments, such as the song "Z'mitzt im Läbe". Accompanied by a synthetic musical mix, Troubadueli sings: "Zwüsche Täg, Nächt, Rächt und Unrächt, guet, schlächt, ächt und unächt, wenig, meh, vorgseh, abgseh, billig, tüür, Wasser und Füür" and thereby revives memories of Mani Matter.

The album «Elba» is currently available on all digital platforms. A physical production is not yet in concrete planning. "We are now looking for live concerts and hope that Bambusbär can play as much as possible and bring more 'Elba' to the people," concludes Troubadueli.

Note: More information about Bambusbär can be found on  Facebook and the band's website.