It takes a sturdy character to walk away from a major label deal.
So it’s a testament to Merz, aka Conrad Lambert, that he did just that back in 1999 and continued to make music, self releasing and working with independent labels along the way. It says even more that his latest album - No Compass Will Find Home - shows off the skills of a musician sounding more vital than ever.
The record is his fourth (following Merz, Loveheart and Moi Et Mon Camion) and was made in cahoots with Accidental label head and sonic innovator Matthew Herbert deep in the Swiss mountains. The album blends Conrad's eccentric folky songwriting skills with more electronic beeps and pieces, showing off plenty of ragged soul and expansive musical ideas.
His LP was released via Accidental in January and more recently led to the latest collaboration with experimental Swiss drummer, Julian Sartorious. The pair linked up on a new rendering of No Compass Will Find Home where the rhythmical, experimental skeleton is brought right to the fore.
It shows how Merz has lost none of the wild musical innovation which brought him to attention in the first place. Get to know him in our 30 Seconds below…
I first started writing music because…
High school was hell.
I have been making music since…
I started playing bagpipes at six years old.
My music is…
Eclectic, ever evolving. electronic, a bit folked up. Lyrical.
You'll like my music if you listen to...
Atlas sound. Robert Wyatt. Those are wild guesses by the way.
My favourite venue is…
Bad Bonn in Dudingen, Switzerland.
Music is important because…
It nourishes the soul and all other passions and emotions. It's water on hard clay.
My biggest inspiration is…
Other musicians inventing. And words.
My dream collaboration would be…
Fantastically; to sing with Liz Fraser. Realistically; Mike Slott, Dimlite, Shahzad Ismaily, Julian Sartorius all together.
To try me out, listen to my song…
Arrows or Silver Moon Ladders or Postcard From A Dark Star.
If I wasn’t making music I’d be…
Older.
In 10 years time I want to be...
Somewhere else, with some others, making something new.
http://www.merz.co.uk
http://accidentalrecords.com
So it’s a testament to Merz, aka Conrad Lambert, that he did just that back in 1999 and continued to make music, self releasing and working with independent labels along the way. It says even more that his latest album - No Compass Will Find Home - shows off the skills of a musician sounding more vital than ever.
The record is his fourth (following Merz, Loveheart and Moi Et Mon Camion) and was made in cahoots with Accidental label head and sonic innovator Matthew Herbert deep in the Swiss mountains. The album blends Conrad's eccentric folky songwriting skills with more electronic beeps and pieces, showing off plenty of ragged soul and expansive musical ideas.
His LP was released via Accidental in January and more recently led to the latest collaboration with experimental Swiss drummer, Julian Sartorious. The pair linked up on a new rendering of No Compass Will Find Home where the rhythmical, experimental skeleton is brought right to the fore.
It shows how Merz has lost none of the wild musical innovation which brought him to attention in the first place. Get to know him in our 30 Seconds below…
I first started writing music because…
High school was hell.
I have been making music since…
I started playing bagpipes at six years old.
My music is…
Eclectic, ever evolving. electronic, a bit folked up. Lyrical.
You'll like my music if you listen to...
Atlas sound. Robert Wyatt. Those are wild guesses by the way.
My favourite venue is…
Bad Bonn in Dudingen, Switzerland.
Music is important because…
It nourishes the soul and all other passions and emotions. It's water on hard clay.
My biggest inspiration is…
Other musicians inventing. And words.
My dream collaboration would be…
Fantastically; to sing with Liz Fraser. Realistically; Mike Slott, Dimlite, Shahzad Ismaily, Julian Sartorius all together.
To try me out, listen to my song…
Arrows or Silver Moon Ladders or Postcard From A Dark Star.
If I wasn’t making music I’d be…
Older.
In 10 years time I want to be...
Somewhere else, with some others, making something new.
http://www.merz.co.uk
http://accidentalrecords.com
