Anshelle – the journey continues

Change has been the only real constant in Anshelle’s 7 year music career. The Bern based five piece completely reinvented themselves on their critically acclaimed sophomore album by moving away from the upbeat electronica of their debut in favour of a lush, organic pop/rock sound. With the imminent release of “Betty’s Garden”, the band’s highly anticipated third album, the metamorphosis is set to continue.

Anshelle’s impressive knack for writing an instantly...

Anshelle – the journey continues

Change has been the only real constant in Anshelle’s 7 year music career. The Bern based five piece completely reinvented themselves on their critically acclaimed sophomore album by moving away from the upbeat electronica of their debut in favour of a lush, organic pop/rock sound. With the imminent release of “Betty’s Garden”, the band’s highly anticipated third album, the metamorphosis is set to continue.

Anshelle’s impressive knack for writing an instantly catchy chorus and delicate melodies remains undiminished on “Betty’s Garden” but the canvas is considerably darker this time around. If “Rewind Please” was a nostalgic escape into the simplicity and wonderment of childhood, then their latest offering is very much mired in the uncertainty of the present. The album is a raw and unwaveringly honest musical journey through the complexities and uncertainties of modern life. While the themes are often sombre, “Betty’s Garden” is still shaped by optimism and the search for beauty and hope in the darkest corners of existence.

It’s fitting that the new album begins with a track called “After The Fall”. The five members of Anshelle are experts at persevering in the face of adversity and the band is finally beginning to reap the rewards of their hard work. “Rewind Please” became a chart success in their native Switzerland and introduced the band’s unique brand of whimsical pop music to a growing international audience. With the assistance of London based co-producer Steve Lyon (who has previously collaborated with the likes of Depeche Mode, The Cure, Reamonn and Laura Pausini), Anshelle strive to build on that platform with “Betty’s Garden”, further cementing their place at the forefront of European pop.

While most bands in their position would play it safe and deliver more of the same, Anshelle have taken a different route. Songs like “Borderline”, “Slightly Underdressed” and “Good Days” explore themes such as mental illness, social anxiety and suicide with keen insight and compassion. The tracks not only highlight the growth of Michèle Bachmann as a lyricist, they also perfectly showcase the depth and versatility of her soulful voice. Michèle’s words are brought to life by co-writers Phil Küffer and Sandro Marretta, while André Brügger and Martin Kissling flesh out the sound with their superb guitar work and drumming. Anshelle’s ability to make even the darkest issue palatable with their beautiful chords and looping melodies is startling.

Despite the introspective nature of the album, “Betty’s Garden” is also shaped by light and hope. The first single, “Crossroads”, is a radio friendly love song with a soaring chorus and universally identifiable lyrics about starting a relationship. “More Than I Deserved” is an upbeat slice of dreamy pop with a social conscience, while “Turn On” brings the album to a close with a song that, rather appropriately, explores the power of music, emphasising the necessity of optimism and the nobility of striving to make things better.

The album’s title is derived from two connected but very different songs. “Betty” tells the tale of a lost soul on a seemingly hopeless path, while “Secret Garden” is a beautifully produced pop song about the happiness and contentment that comes from finding a place to belong. Michèle describes Betty as “a person in search of peace of mind, yearning for that house in that wonderful garden full of bliss and warmth” and the listener cannot help but identify with her quest.

“Betty’s Garden” was released in Switzerland on the 1st of May and entered the album charts at no. 31. Anshelle’s Swiss tour kicked off on the 30th of April with a sold out cd release gig.