The listener is taken on a journey to another world of Swiss culture. The compositions by Helios & Hess are based on analog instruments, manipulated turntables, loops, sound-fragments and fieldrecordings. The tracks are lengthy and epic, closer to weird storytelling than boring pop-songs.

Alp Blessing is an ancient tradition, which can only be found in the German Catholic alpine region and is still alive today.

Between the Middle Age and the 18th century Swiss Mercenaries – called Reisläufer – were in military service for many European rulers. At that time it, was one of the few opportunities for a lot of families to earn their bread and butter. Nowadays, the Papal Swiss Guards at the Vatican are the last vestige of Swiss Mercenaries.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Helios & Hess are two noise-veterans Von Wurstfinger and Strotter Inst. from Berne.

The compositions by Helios & Hess are based on analog instruments, manipulated turntables, loops, sound-fragments and field recordings. The tracks are lengthy and epic, closer to weird storytelling than boring pop-songs. Back in the womb of Everestrecords, after the debut Mme Demeuron in 2002, their music still haunts the light and bright side of human existence by highly elaborated atmospheric noise-scapes. Helios & Hess take the audience on a trip through unknown and misunderstood traditions of Swiss history such as REISLÄUFER or ALPSEGEN. The music lets the listeners immerse into mind-blowing landslides and firestorms, sublime melodies and harsh reality. Exposed to nature and human violence, the music scenery emerges around animals and words, kids and soldiers, rain and wind – all blended with humor, intensity and dignity.

All tracks are composed to be performed live.