Andreas Schaerer, Luciano Biondini, Kalle Kalima, Lucas Niggli – Anthem For No Man’s Land (ACT, 2025)
Swiss vocalist Andreas Schaerer, often compared to Bobby McFerrin for his vocal dexterity, has long been a singular force in contemporary European jazz music. His commanding stage presence and innovative approach earned him the European Artist of the Year award from France’s Académie du Jazz in 2024. Yet, Schaerer is more than just a virtuoso performer, he is a conceptual thinker who continually redefines the role of the voice in ensemble settings.
On Anthem For No Man’s Land, Schaerer shifts further away from the conventional role of a lead singer, integrating his voice into the group’s collective sound. He deliberately crafts vocal patterns that support rather than dominate, ensuring that the beautiful and mesmerizing voice functions as an instrument rather than a spotlight feature. His commitment to this philosophy stems from years of refining the group dynamic within his long-standing quartet, formed in 2016 with drummer Lucas Niggli, guitarist Kalle Kalima, and accordionist Luciano Biondini. Initially an experiment in both electronic and acoustic directions, the quartet coalesced into a unit known for its fluid interplay and genre-defying approach.
Since their debut album A Novel of Anomaly (2018), the band has evolved through over 100 performances. Schaerer’s various other projects, Hildegard Lernt Fliegen, Out of Land, The Big Wig, Rom/Schaerer/Eberle, and Evolution, have further influenced the group’s expansion in scope and stylistic openness. On this latest release, the quartet embraces even greater freedom, both musically and linguistically.
A defining feature of Anthem For No Man’s Land is Schaerer’s use of an invented language; words that mimic familiar cadences without carrying actual meaning. His intention is to strip language of its cultural anchors, creating an inclusive, borderless form of communication. The effect is striking: listeners might think they hear English, Spanish, or Italian, but in reality, the words are purely phonetic, designed to evoke emotion rather than transmit literal meaning. This linguistic abstraction aligns with the album’s broader utopian vision, where expression is liberated from national or cultural confines.
Musically, the album mirrors this philosophy. The compositions interweave influences ranging from progressive rock and 1970s psychedelia to Italian popular song, West African rhythms, Alpine folk, and chamber jazz. Some moments evoke the emotional pull of tango; others lean into avant-garde improvisation. The result is a rich, unpredictable set that resists easy categorization.
As the liner notes declare, Anthem For No Man’s Land is more than just a collection of songs, it is a manifesto for artistic freedom.
Musicians: Andreas Schaerer on vocals, mouth percussion, bass-synth; Luciano Biondini on accordion; Kalle Kalima on electric guitar; Lucas Niggli on drums.
Cover art by Martin Noël (1956-2010), 2010, used by kind permission of Margarete and Cora Noël
Cover design by Siggi Loch. Photo by Tamara Janes
Track listing
01 St. John’s Passion 4:46
02 Tandem 5:53
03 Laki Penan 4:23
04 Magma Mia 4:52
05 Mr. More 5:39
06 Anthem for No Man’s Land 7:08
07 Siesta in Utopia 5:21
08 Eglised by the Moon 4:43
09 Bad Eye 3:40
10 Sogna Belino 4:28