Now For Some Gigi

January 26, 2010 at 9:48 pm | Posted in Canada, mp3, Music | 2 Comments
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photo by Michelle Mayne

Gigi is the brainchild of songwriter Nick Krgovich (No Kids and P:ano) producer Colin Stewart (Black Mountain, Cave Singers and Destroyer) and two very large vintage plate reverbs (some dusty storage space).  The two of them got together a few years ago with their newly found reverb plates tucked under their arms and the inkling of making a record the way Phil Spector did before he wore nutty wigs and developed a penchant for guns. Besides the Spector influence, I’m reminded of early Harry Nilsson records with their orchestration that always seemed a balancing act between psychedelia and easy listening.

What they came up is quite a record that conjures that era, and sinks it’s pop hooks into you.  Each song features a different singer with stellar performances turned in by Rose Melberg, Zac Pennington, Karl Blau, Mirah, and OwenPallett.  This project is similar to what Stuart Murdoch attempted last year with his God Save the Girl album, but far surpasses it.  Krgovich and Stewart out-Murdochs Mr. Belle and Sebastian himself.    The orchestration is restrained but effective, with doses of horns and strings sprinkled about, and twinkling piano and angelic backup singers.  So far I’ve only listened to the mp3 version of the album, but even that sounds so warm and intricate that you almost feel like you’re in the studio.  I can only imagine what the CD and vinyl version will add.  I use to think that they didn’t make albums like this anymore, but Gigi have proven me wrong. The album is titled Maintenant and is out on Tomlab, prepare to be swept off your feet.

mp3: Gigi – The Hundredth Time feat. Duffy Driediger & Ryan Peters (buy Maintenant)

You can also grab mp3′s of the Karl Blau sung Strolling Past the Graveyard over at Rcrd Lbl and the Rose Melberg sung  Alone at the Pier at Stereogum.

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2 Comments »

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  1. On the cover I read Maintentant. Which one is wrong?

    Comment by Martin Schori— January 29, 2010 #

    Reply

    • Wow, I hadn’t noticed that. I think there’s a cover out there with Maintenant misspelled and one with it spelled correctly. I wonder if they caught mistake before it went to press?

      Comment by Toby— January 29, 2010 #

      Reply

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