Pascal Gamboni rolls with an easy-going roots rock vibe, but the music is simply the canvas for his vocals. He sings in Romansh, the native language of his corner of Switzerland. Romansh is not Romanian, but it is something of a mix of Romance language roots and German, with other stuff in there just for fun. In other words, I have no idea what he's singing.

Pascal Gamboni Sut la Pial (self-released)

But his voice is wonderfully engaging, and the acoustic guitar lead licks pick up where his voice leaves off. I suppose there is a bit of the eastern European folk sound, but I don't know if that's even a thing. Musically, this feels like American attempts to channel a cafe folk sound--run through a couple of echo chambers. Which is to say that Gamboni pretty much owns his sound.

He does have one English song title: "Zen Like Sixties Vibe", which isn't a bad approximation, either. There is a pleasant ramble to his songwriting, and it's not hard to get the gist of what he's singing without comprehending a single word.

Spare and stripped down in sound, but far from simple. Gamboni has created a wonderful musical setting, and his earnest delivery sells the songs well. An album that sounds a world away--and right next door. A fully worthy journey.

Jon Worley