The first album of Amrain alias Michael Wernli (mainly composer for film- and stage music in Zurich, Switzerland), was composed and recorded in the year 2001 in his own studio in zurich.
Having written songs and music more in a Genesis-alike-mood, Michael quit the songwriting and band-work in the early nineties to start composing music for films and theatre.
Mostly because he didn't feel comfortable to follow the «usual way» of a pop-band and looking for collaborations with different genres and arts.
Yet his music and early songs have always had a «movie-touch» and now with Amrain and «Meeting Ventura», it all comes together.
«Meeting Ventura» represents the love for movies and stories: there are a lot of lonely characters on this album, some of them remind of a certain actor (e.g.
Antoine Doinel/Jean-Pierre Leaud).
But there's always a funny side to it, the settings aren't just sad or hopeless.
This is especially evident in the live situation, where Michael performs on piano together with percussionist roli elmer, where he reduces the music to its bones and brings out the lyrics - in a theatrical manner - as the most important thing.
But there always remains a certain secret to the songs, so the listener can read his/her own story.
On «Meeting Ventura», Michael played a Yamaha cp70-piano, hit his drum kit and several percussions, fingered his bass guitar and added with some cellos and synths.
Some excellent jazz notes are contributed by friends on clarinet, flute, viola and soprano saxophone.
It's become a fine singer/songwriter pop-album, with an urban touch and the breath of landscapes as well: the name «amrain» is borrowed by Swiss writer Gerhard Meier, who says: «only a covinced provincial person can be a citizen of the world».
Michael currently works on two new stage-compostions for either dance and theatre, which both will be performed this summer.
Besides, he gives concerts with Amrain, writes new songs and also performs in 2 theatres live as a musician.
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.amrain.chTrack List:
1. studio 4
2. 1700
3. back on earth
4. failing
5. antoine doinel
6. chemistry
7. cul de sac
8. queuing
9. no worries
10. man with a cake
11. studio 4 reprise
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