A Novel of Anomaly (with Luciano Biondini, Kalle Kalima & Lucas Niggli)

Swiss vocalist Andreas Schaerer combines the percussive agility of Bobby McFerrin and the aesthetic whimsy of Theo Bleckmann on this eclectic quartet release. Kalle Kalima’s edgy electric guitar, Luciano Biondini’s accordion virtuosity, and Lucas Niggli’s versatile drumming don’t let up. The music’s complexity, and the band’s clarity of execution, can be stunning. The wildly inventive solo vocal/beatbox breakdown of “Planet Zumo,” the searing slide guitar and yodeling of “Getelateria,” the mournful balladry of “Stagione,” and the eerie abstraction of “Flood” combine into a vivid, imaginative whole.