Both musically and in terms of its physical “composition", Critical Acid has come a long way: from its humble beginnings as a funk crew it progressed to recording its own demos, and won the
“kleiner Prix Walo” for 1998 in the category “Best Pop/Rock Band”. Over the years, it has pursued its goals with admirable determination and has consistently won over sceptics with its dynamic performances. Today, Critical Acid has evolved into a pop band with style and a distinct brand; it does not shrink from showing emotions and communicating feelings to its audiences. The band’s lyrics are in English, German and Italian, and smooth jazz funk has now given way to a unique and romantic genre of funk-pop. Singers Karin Meier and Gianni Palumbo weave their magic to the sound of samples, drum loops and subtle tonal collages. While the influence of jazz and hip hop is still clearly perceptible in the music, Critical Acid is carving out its own distinct identity – an identity that is at once exciting, dreamy and subtle. Ear candy!
Critical Acid was founded in 1993 by pianist/composer Andreas Schumacher and guitarist
Mark Luginbühl. The band worked on their sound and made a name for themselves right from the start as a hot live act. Concerts held in various venues around the city of Winterthur and during the Winterthur Music Festival consolidated this reputation. In 1995, singer Karin Meier joined the band, and
Critical Acid worked with rejuvenated vigour on new material. Their determination and live gigs paid off: Claudio Matteo, guitarist from the band “China”, and sound engineer Simon Evans volunteered to put together the band’s first demo album.
On October 19, 1996, the band launched its first demo CD in a packed show at the famous nightclub “Albani” in the city of Winterthur. Not only were all 300 tickets sold out well in advance, but many eager concert-goers had to be turned away at the door. In January of 1997, at another “full-house” concert of 600 at the “Salzhaus”, Critical Acid proved that they were rightfully dubbed heroes in the Winterthur music scene. The media was not far behind in appreciating the band, and success at live venues resulted in numerous interviews, articles and radio time for the band. Critical Acid tirelessly played to great acclaim across Switzerland. A highlight of that year was the fantastic sold-out concert at the legendary club “Atlantis” in Basel, where they brought the house down with their music.
Critical Acid continued their work and were such prolific songwriters that it was soon time to record a second demo album. The new demo CD was released in time for the Winterthur Music Festival in August of 1998. Guest performers at the fantastic launch concert, held once again at the “Salzhaus”, included Big Reggie (formerly of Rytmica), Roman Weissert (Fumetti Funk) and Martin Gisler (Camen). In September/December of that same year, Critical Acid was nominated in the category “Best Pop/Rock Band” for the “kleine Prix Walo.” The “kleine Prix Walo” is an award established by the Swiss show business association “Show Szene Schweiz” specifically for new talent, where a jury of industry insiders decide on the best newcomers of the year in one of five categories. The band played live on television as part of the competition, and won the award. As part of the prize, Critical Acid was invited to perform at the “Prix Walo” award for established names in show business, joining such stars as Gotthard, Gölä and Roxette on stage. The gala ceremony was broadcast on national television on March 6, 1999 and Critical Acid played live to an appreciative audience.
In fact, the public just couldn’t seem to get enough! The band’s performance at the prestigious MUBA lifestyle fair in Basel that Spring was documented in the “Weekend-Music” show on Switzerland’s SF2 television station. Critical Acid played at various festivals in the summer of 1999, including the
“Open Hearts” benefit concert in Zurich, with “Sina” and “Autseid;” the “Open Air” in Fehraltorf, with “Subzonic” and “The Lovebugs;” the “Chlingen Open Air” in Stein am Rhein; and the “Open Air Gränichen” in Aarau, with “Core” and “The Allschwil Posse”. All those live gigs and packed shows got the band the recognition it deserved and Critical Acid signed a record deal with “Musikvertrieb AG” in August 1999. The album was recorded at Powerplay studios in Maur, under the watchful eyes of Stefano Neri and Helge Dyk. The band took a critical look at their sound and continued to work hard, producing more new songs. Their first album, “Tiefenrausch”, was released on October 2, 2000 under the “Muve” label.
After a promotion tour with concerts across Switzerland, the band decided to take time out in 2001. Karin took a six-month tour of Vancouver, Canada, and the coasts of Australia, while Jumé travelled to Montreal, Canada for a change of scene. His fateful meeting with Tom Dardzinsky, a novelist and poet from Montreal, influenced Critical Acid’s development considerably. Tom joined forces with Karen and Jumé as the band’s third songwriter, and contributes greatly to the band’s newly refined sound. In the spring of 2002, Critical Acid decided to record a second album, but not just anywhere. It was off to the South of France! They spent a month in a villa in Tourrettes-sur-Loup, their creative energy strangely underscored by the World Soccer Championships taking place at the same time. The band recorded a fresh fourteen songs on an album with producer Jürg Imhoof (Revolution Recordings, Winterthur) and singer Gianni Palumbo. This was Critical Acid like you had never heard it before – pop-funk that goes to the heart and legs before creeping into the head. Sensual and sophisticated!
In June of 2003, as promotion for an upcoming concert at the “Albanifäscht” music festival, the band sent their song “Fiction in Your Head” to the national radio station RADIO TOP, where the programmers liked it so much that it was put on the official playlist. “Fiction in Your Head” became number 1 for two weeks in the RADIO TOP Hit Parade, spending two months in the top five. This was a confidence-building lead-up to the release of Critical Acid’s second album, entitled “Fictions” Beat Müller, CEO of “Star Productions” and his distribution partner ZYX released the album in Switzerland, Germany and Austria in October of 2003.
Critical Acid were so inspired by their time in the south of France, that they unanimously decided to spend another month there in 2004. This time, they rented a villa in Cap d’Antibes with a pool and a ping-pong table, and brought in a film crew to document their experience. Their thirteen new songs are shaped by the Mediterranean climate and salty sea air. Critical Acid is back, more sensitive than ever. Their third album "Passage" is full of warmth. Mature pop with Latin elements and disarming emotion.
To be continued....
