By Keith Walsh
Gilles Snowcat is a man who cares about music. And like anyone else, he’s figured out that if he wants to stay on top of things and keep making music, he’s got to own up to the error of his ways. His new album Don’t Leave Your Mistakes Unattended is at least tangentially about making amends after making mistakes. And like any other Gilles Snowcat album, there’s tons of references to mixed drinks, the elixir that’s a mixed blessing.
From his early days in the late 80s with the Belgian band Awaken, where he started out with a mix of punk, funk and outrageous alt rock, Snowcat has evolved naturally from a bratty, privileged guy to someone who faces the inevitable losses head on, and finds them useful material for lyrics.
The first track, “Waterloo,” takes the name of Napoleon’s great failure as a metaphor for the losses that naturally coincide with being a person living in the world and making mistakes. His gruff voice is more understated than ever, and his crack band of Patrick Deltenre (guitars), Nick Adams (drums), hetpampa (backing vocals) and Duke Quarcoo (bass) provide solid backing. Gilles himself is a multi-instrumentalist who started screwing up the world with a bass and electric guitar, then gravitated to keyboard and the various sounds, though he favors electric pianos.
The songs on Don’t Leave Your Mistakes Unattended are mellow, tropical and somewhat loungey. Monaco 1972, a reggae tune featuring yours truly on melodica (as Brick Bosso), has some of the snazziest saxophone I’ve heard, haunting background vocals and Gilles’ cool clavinet. Vince Penasse (sax) and Black Foxy (foxiness) show up here also,
“Tiny Little Ice Cubes” is a song about romantic love that could have turned into someone’s greatest error, but instead it’s a sweet duet with Adriana Dath that captures the wooziest sweetness of love and lounges.
“The Pyjama Scene” is bright and funky, with a guitar and clavinet interplay that would make Stevie Wonder blush bright pink (though neither he our you could see it). “Pandan Smash Amaretto” is the strangest song here, a kind of spooky piano, vocal and clarinet by Lucy Tasker, in a duet featuring vocals by Ana Cozman. “At the Marzipan Bar” is a guitar and harmonica blues ballad, featuring Patrick Deltenre.
“Almond Squash (The Marzipan Theme)” is the closest thing to a 90s Peter Gabriel track Gilles Snowcat has ever done. There’s the perfect bass guitar that never stops moving, the trippy synths, and the soft, dynamic percussion by Octave Komlan. But then the sax comes in and changes the genre. Dennis Snyder (drums) shows up here as well. “Coast Avenue Drive (Taking Action In Haute Couture)” is a jazzy, atmospheric tune, another instrumental with some great sound selections and fantastic keyboard, sax and guitar work. A guy called Individual Choice shows up here as well.
There’s no anger here. Don’t Leave Your Mistakes Unattended resonates with love and repentance, and the joy that comes with repentance. The performances are masterful, the recordings are crystal clear, and Snowcat’s brilliant production is smooth and full. It’s a mature eight track set that resonates with the grown up in me.
Other players: Nico Leroy (guitar, bass, Moog synth) and Ian Rigillo (guitars), Myles Simpson (drums), Lew Ellyn (harmony vocals), Vincent Penasse (saxophone), and of course Gilles on other stuff, including the TI99/A4 (for some 8 bit sounds).
Special contributions by Jing Chen, Miyako Yokosawa, Betonako, Sébastian Bournier, JP Benadjer, Alexis Bollard, St. December, Simon Napier Bell, Bill Bayer, Axel Dumont, Catherine D’Hondt, Agusto Gonçalves, Ronatto Ronchetti, and Agak-Agak.
Hear Now: Complete Links For “Don’t Leave Your Mistakes Unattended”
Gilles Snowcat dot com
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