The easiest thing to say about Herman Düne is that they are atypical. Created by David-Ivar Herman Düne and Andre Herman Düne more than ten years ago, the two Swedish-rooted fans of American music were already playing all around Europe and the States before they'd even begun making records. Having written over four hundred songs, they have become a reference in the modern folk-rock songwriting scene.
The English press (the NME, the Melody Maker, The Independant, etc…) has described them as 'Swedish Lo-Fi Serge Gainsbourgs' and wrote praise after praise of their first album "Turn off the light" (2000). John Peel invited them for a studio session (September 2000) and to his home for a live BBC broadcast of his Christmas party (2000).
On tour, the British audience and press were stunned by both their personality and presence. Claiming vegetarian ethics from a candle lit stage, the Herman Dünes give quite uncommon performances. In France, where the band lives, the press and audience are also unanimous. Herman Düne toured in England, France, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium and the States, supporting "Turn off the light". In February 2001 they released a four song CD for their European tour.
Shrimper, the notorious Californian label that produced Lou Barlow and Yo La Tengo's first recordings, has compiled some unreleased Herman Düne songs to make their second album, "They go to the woods" (April 2001). Never letting any dust collect, the Herman Dünes went back to the studio in June, 2001. The third album, "Switzerland Heritage", (which was appropriately recorded in Geneva, Switzerland), was released by Prohibited Records in October, 2001.
Their three albums were recorded by sound engineer F.Lor (who has lately been producing the albums of Don Nino and other artists such as Yann Tiersen and Francoiz Breut). This third album is a folk-rock manifesto. The singular and touching voices of David-Ivar and André are carried by the solid, minimal beats of their new drum player, Neman. The Silvertone guitars break out with some live experimentation, while the band adds some arrangements that add a different sound to the previous Herman Düne recordings (violins, acoustic guitars, organs, horns, and harmonica). Omé, the former drum player, joined in on the recording for some singing and organ playing. Both ornate and plain, the combination of all these things places "Switzerland Heritage" as their best album to date, and already a milestone.
