Toboggan
Toboggan is a Lausanne(Switzerland)-based musical project of Maude Oswald, Valérie Niederoest and Jérémy Conne. 1996-2006 The band’s first decade of music saw 2 albums come to light under local label Gentlemen, 2 European tours, and 2 songs played on John Peelʼs legendary BBC radio show, as well as frequent shows in Swiss clubs. 2007-2009 Toboggan goes into exile in Berlin in order to record its third album (E Brutal !, 2008), with 10 compositions that show a real evolution of their music. The band leaves behind its post-rock arabesques in order to offer more direct songs. They take a step nearer to pop-songs, as a heritage of their old and new indie and also krautrock influences. Their sound is enriched with new instruments (Elka, baritone guitar, keyboards) and the vocals impose themselves on obsessional rhythms and mix with melodies. The band wanted a more direct album, proven with songs which have settled between simplicity and complexity, between dark and bright moments. In the meantime, Toboggan signs with a young and dynamic label from Berlin, Sinnbus Records, and in Switzerland under a new flag : the hyperactive Saïko Records. With these collaborations, the trio goes on Swiss and European roads again to promote E Brutal !. 2009 sees the song “Fields” released on a compilation Du son pour la tête (edited by the weekly magazine L’Hebdo), a show at Paléo Festival followed in October by “House on the Hill”, a movie by late Eloïse de Breteuil, in which Toboggan plays 2 songs. 2010-2011 In October 2010, its cover of Larytta’s song “Wonder Vendor” comes out on Swiss label Creaked Records. Toboggan is carrying on its gentle path : brainstorming et back soon with new ideas. The members of Toboggan take part in other musical projects : Maude plays keyboards with Favez, Jérémy drums for Rosqo, and Valérie is taking part in Christian Garcia’s (Velma) project named Meril Wubslin.