Off The Tracks

Off The Tracks
  • Blog
    • Interviews
    • Miscellany
    • Special Guests
    • Reviews
  • Podcasts
  • The Vinyl Countdown
  • Back Catalogue
  • About
    • About
    • About the banner image
    • On Song
March 2, 2013 by Simon Sweetman

Chilly Gonzales: Solo Piano II

Solo Piano IIChilly Gonzales

Solo Piano II

EMI

Many years ago I was invited to a luncheon put on by the French Embassy – a music rep was in town (that gives you some idea as to the whole other lifetime ago on another planet that I’m talking about). I went along – I never usually go to such things – and a handful of local hacks were there sizing one another up and arguing all the while that, on the evidence of this particular day, there was such a thing as a free lunch. I was one of the last at the table – the benefit, at the time, of being self-employed. And so when I got chatting to this record company rep she handed me a bunch of CDs. All were new to me – and one was Solo Piano by Gonzales.

It swiftly became a favourite – an album I still play regularly nearly a decade on.

I haven’t been all that taken with the other material by Chilly Gonzales but I admire the talent and approach, I like that he won’t be defined by any one genre, instrument or approach. He seems a restless musical soul – and that’s super-okay with me when there’s talent along for the ride also. And clearly there is. But I’ve longed for a return to what I heard on Solo Piano.

And in the best possible way Solo Piano II offers a return – in that the approach, as it says on the box, is the same but the result is different enough as night to day. Actually, this is more the day-time sound where the first volume was all nocturnal Satie-esque pieces of delicate surprise and intrigue; the piano seeming startled by Gonzales’ touch.

Volume II has a similar approach and feel in many ways, the idea of near-spontaneous composition, but it is the artist nearly a decade on, working quickly still (recorded across 10 days) but with a whole new set of sound influences.

So where Solo Piano was more a case of classical solo piano through the eyes of an electronica artist, Solo Piano II is a hip-hop aesthete’s take on jazz (and classical) piano styles; it’s brighter, shinier – and the Eno/Satie-minimalism is not the obvious go-to; this album pushes the door open where the last was peeking around the corner.

But I’m very pleased to have a second volume – a return to form from Gonzales (now billed as Chilly Gonzales, even on this release). And an album that has that same timeless feel to it as the first volume.

Posted in Blog, Reviews and tagged with Album Review, Chilly Gonzales, Gonzales, Solo PIano, Solo Piano II. RSS 2.0 feed.
« Michael Houstoun: Lilburn – Music for Solo Piano
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion: Meat and Bone »

Popular

  • The Sad Story of Bob Welch: Fleetwood Mac’s Most Undervalued Member
  • Janna Lapidus Leblanc: Four Years In Pictures
  • The Best Guitarist in The World: # 8 – Mark Knopfler
  • The Beast: Revisiting John Bonham’s Glory
  • Revisiting Live at Knebworth (1990)
  • Going Back To Lou Reed: Time To Revisit His Strange, Wonderful, Weird Catalogue
  • The Best Guitarist in The World: # 11 – Lindsey Buckingham
  • Neil Peart Was The World’s Most Overrated Drummer
  • What A Good Score! – #17: Dead Man Walking by Various Artists
  • The Best Guitarist in The World: # 1 – Jeff Beck

Archives

Tags

Album Review Auckland Blog Book Book Review Chat Compilation DJ Drums DVD DVD Review EP Film Film Review Gig Gig Review Guest Blog Guitar Interview Jazz Live Live Gig LP Movie Music NZ Podcast Poem Poetry Record Records Simon Sweetman Soundtrack Spotify Stub Stubs Sweetman Podcast The Vinyl Countdown Vinyl Want more? Check out my Substack You can also support Off The Tracks via PressPatron Wellington Wgtn Writing You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron [OST]

Categories

  • Back Catalogue
  • Blog
  • Interviews
  • Miscellany
  • Mixtapes
  • Playlists
  • Podcasts
  • Reviews
  • Scene Of The Day
  • Special Guests
  • The Vinyl Countdown

Off The Tracks is the home of Sweetman Podcast, a weekly interview/chat-based pod. It's also home to my reviews across film, TV, music and books and some creative writing as well.

Off The Tracks aims to provide quality reviews and essays, regular blog updates about the shows, albums, books and movies you should be experiencing.

It's a passion project. Your support will help to keep Off The Tracks online.

All content © 2022 by Off The Tracks. WordPress Themes by Graph Paper Press