Gölä calls it quits with third album

Band members Thomas J. Gyger (left), Marco "Gölä" Pfeuti and Zlatko Perica. www.seven49.net

The Swiss-German band, Gölä, has decided to split up after releasing its third and last studio album, "Gölä III".

The band, which carries the lead singer’s nickname, has planned only two concerts in Switzerland to promote its new album and bid farewell to its fans. Both concerts, scheduled for next year, are already sold out.

Ironically, Gölä has become the first Swiss band ever to fill Zurich’s Hallenstadion, which can host 24,000 spectators.

Old tools, new sound

Gölä III is traditional in that “it uses all the old instruments, such as drums, bass, guitars, keyboard and a voice,” says Thomas J. Gyger, the keyboard player who goes by the name of TJ. But the Bernese band also tried to innovate by introducing a saxophone, digital string arrangements, and adding a second and sometimes a third voice.

The band also broke its habit of recording in Schaffausen, choosing Bern, which was closer to home.

Meanwhile, the music is flowing.

“We just couldn’t stop writing,” said Zlatko Perica, the lead guitarist. “I remember that at the end, we really had to focus on the best ones and stop writing.”

Love

The band carries the nickname of the singer, whose real name is Marco Pfeuti. He wrote his lyrics in Swiss-German, focusing on a central theme: love.

“I think that’s what life is all about,” said Pfeuti. “I’ve got the same problems as everybody – girls coming, girls running away.”

Pfeuti’s lyrics sometimes give the impression that words are not enough.

“I think maybe it’s a male problem – men are not good in talking about soul problems and heartaches,” said Pfeuti.

1998

Gölä shot to fame in 1998 with its debut album, “Uf u dervo”, which means “Get up and walk away”. The following year, the band released “Wildi Ross”, or “Wild Horse”, then “Volksmusig” in 2000. Their latest release, Gölä III, has been at the top of the Swiss charts for several weeks.

“Success has changed pretty much everything for us,” TJ explained. “Rather than having (routine) daily lives, we never know what’s going to happen the next day – but that’s what I like.”

Despite having sold half a million albums, Pfeuti explains that each band member will have to keep earning a living. The former bricklayer plans to develop his own label and encourage other Swiss talents. He also hopes to use skills acquired during his former career.

“If I get lucky, I might buy a very old farmhouse and renovate it,” said Pfeuti.

He hopes to move in within the coming year. “After that, I’d like to maybe buy another old house and fix it and then sell it – I need to work!”

by Jeff Nottage