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Track Listings
| 1. Knight Moves |
| 2. I Am Europe |
| 3. Bittersuite |
| 4. Smothered Mate |
| 5. The Grudge |
| 6. Rococo Chanel |
| 7. Never Stop |
| 8. Pixel Paxel |
| 9. You Can Dance |
| 10. Crying |
| 11. Final Fantasy |
| 12. Siren Song |
| 13. Never Stop (Chilly Gonzales Rap) |
Product Description
Review
If you’ve attended one of his live shows, you will already be aware that Chilly Gonzales – the Canadian-born major label rocker turned lounge-pop Lothario, ‘pranksta’ rapper and skilled solo pianist – is one of the most flat-out entertaining performers presently walking the boards. What Gonzales has always struggled with, however, is turning the sweaty anarchy, garrulous wordplay and virtuosic classical piano of his concerts into something that works coherently on record. 2004’s Solo Piano worked beautifully, albeit by excising the clowning altogether. 2008’s 70s soft rock-inspired Soft Power, meanwhile, was conceptually brilliant, but apparently proved too oddball for a UK record company to take a punt on – and what is an entertainer without his audience?
Ivory Tower may not solve this conundrum. This is not to say it is bad – it is not – but instead of honing in on one corner of Gonzo’s craft, it branches out yet further. While a talented producer in his own right, here we find Chilly collaborating with Berlin dance producer Boys Noize, re-rendering the elaborate, minimalist-flavoured piano debuted on Solo Piano as louche, polished Euro-disco with one beady eye on the chill-out dollar. It is often much better than this sounds: take the likes of Knight Moves and Smothered Mate, which match Philip Glass-style melodies to simmering club rhythms with an smart charm that makes much modern downbeat sound cheap by comparison. You Can Dance, meanwhile, harks back to the soft-rock kitsch of Soft Power, all white funk, hand claps and big choruses sung with teeth agleam.
More awkwardly placed here are Gonzo’s vocal turns, semi-rapped rhyming couplets rammed with smart wordplay and epic self-aggrandisement. This worked a charm on the prankster hip hop of 2000’s The Entertainist, but sits slightly oddly on the pulsing techno-lite of I Am Europe. “I’m a dog s*** ashtray,” declares Gonzo, “I’m a shrugging moustache wearing a Speedo tuxedo.” Sure you are.
Still, The Grudge is proof he can still bring the funnies – a plea for beef conducted from the comfort of a piano stool: “See, what I need is enemies, please – a nemesis, or nemeses / They say revenge is just like sashimi – best served cold, so shiver when you see me.”
--Louis PattisonFind more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
CD Description
The 2010 soundtrack of the film "Ivory Tower" composed by Canadian pianist, producer, rapper and songwriter Chilly Gonzales, who also co-wrote and starred in the film. Now available as a limited edition 180g double-LP, with production by Boyz Noize. 'Ivory Tower', is the soundtrack to a film of the same name that Chilly Gonzales writes and stars in. "Knight Moves" eases the album into motion in the form of a sweeping instrumental with delicate piano and string arrangements. Just when you thought Gonzales had slipped into the realms of serious musicianship, he brings the tone back down with a series of witty and often hilarious one liners. Stylistically, 'Ivory Tower' finds Gonzales treading new ground once again: produced entirely by Boys Noize, the record has a pulsating euro-pop flavour, with neat disco rhythms that add depth to a still-piano-dominated album. Elsewhere there are some down tempo instrumentals in "Bittersuite" and "Final Fantasy", and occasional witty interjections, but vocals are used sparingly throughout. The best moments are those of joyous pop like "You Can Dance" , or clever wordplay as in "The Grudge" , that combine his personality with his prowess as a pianist. "(8/10 stars) Full of harpsichords and pianos and sexy European beats; it will arouse the mind." – NME "The likes of Knight Moves and Smothered Mate, match Philip Glass-style melodies to simmering club rhythms with a smart charm that makes much modern downbeat sound cheap by comparison." – BBC Music
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Miss Pin
Format:Audio CD
Bought this and a ticket to see him live straight away. I believe it tells you everything you need to know!
4 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Thom
Format:Audio CD
"...this rampantly eclectic session dips into acoustic piano house, brutal bassline and retro-futurist synth pop" 4/5 Time Out
"All you really need to know is, this is amazing" 9/10 DJ
"...lusciously layered dancefloor dramas....his nimble fingers weave worlds of magic...A singlehanded Sparks" 4/5 The Fly
"...a dreamy mix of Ibiza chill-out and 1960s French film soundtrack" The Independent
"The missing link between Leonard Cohen and Sacha Baron Cohen... Ivory Tower
is a slick mix of easy listening, electro beats and caustic humour" The Times
"Ivory Tower brings charm and wit to immaculately crafted electronic
music... Gonzales conjures dancefloor magic" Metro
"All you really need to know is, this is amazing" 9/10 DJ
"...lusciously layered dancefloor dramas....his nimble fingers weave worlds of magic...A singlehanded Sparks" 4/5 The Fly
"...a dreamy mix of Ibiza chill-out and 1960s French film soundtrack" The Independent
"The missing link between Leonard Cohen and Sacha Baron Cohen... Ivory Tower
is a slick mix of easy listening, electro beats and caustic humour" The Times
"Ivory Tower brings charm and wit to immaculately crafted electronic
music... Gonzales conjures dancefloor magic" Metro
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.3 out of 5 stars
3 reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
This album allows you to like this type of music if you don't already
21 Dec 2012
By Rocklin Doc
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I actually discovered Chilly Gonzales on the "Classical Music Station" where I was introduced to his classical piano music first. The first piece of music I heard of his was "Minor Fantasy" from his Album "Solo Piano 2," and although I don't really like piano-only music, I REALLY enjoyed this work. When I went online to order this particular album, I was introduced to Chilly's other music stylings such as what is contained in "Ivory Tower." Upon listening to some of the samples I wasn't particularly convinced that I would like this album, but the overwhelmingly positive reviews convinced me to give it a try.
Upon listening to this album the very first time I could tell that Chilly and his crew put a ton of attention to every aspect of the album, and that it was a very 'intelligent' album. There were some grooves that got my foot tapping and some really funny lyrics, but my overall first impression was that "this was an excellent album of music that just wasn't my cup of tea."
About a week later, my wife was driving my car and it still had the Chilly CD in it. She said she didn't expect me to have that type of music in the CD player (we have different taste in music) and that she REALLY liked it. So, the next time we were in the car together, we listened to it again... and for some reason, the second time I listened to the album in its entirety, I really got into it. Maybe because the shock of how different it was than any other music in my collection had worn off and my prejudices toward techno/club music had to be put aside because my wife likes those styles of music.
I have listened to the album many times over now, and I have found that I like the album more each time I listen to it. It was really exciting for me to have an album of this techno/party/club genre that I REALLY like. I never felt like I was able to like music like this because I always found this type of music to be boring and repetitive, and lacking in any real 'music.'
This album has been a game changer for me, along with his "Presidential Suite" album, which I had a similar experience with. Chilly Gonzales is edgy, funny, and most importantly, incredibly musically talented. I highly recommend this album, particularly to those people who feel the need to expand their musical horizons.
Upon listening to this album the very first time I could tell that Chilly and his crew put a ton of attention to every aspect of the album, and that it was a very 'intelligent' album. There were some grooves that got my foot tapping and some really funny lyrics, but my overall first impression was that "this was an excellent album of music that just wasn't my cup of tea."
About a week later, my wife was driving my car and it still had the Chilly CD in it. She said she didn't expect me to have that type of music in the CD player (we have different taste in music) and that she REALLY liked it. So, the next time we were in the car together, we listened to it again... and for some reason, the second time I listened to the album in its entirety, I really got into it. Maybe because the shock of how different it was than any other music in my collection had worn off and my prejudices toward techno/club music had to be put aside because my wife likes those styles of music.
I have listened to the album many times over now, and I have found that I like the album more each time I listen to it. It was really exciting for me to have an album of this techno/party/club genre that I REALLY like. I never felt like I was able to like music like this because I always found this type of music to be boring and repetitive, and lacking in any real 'music.'
This album has been a game changer for me, along with his "Presidential Suite" album, which I had a similar experience with. Chilly Gonzales is edgy, funny, and most importantly, incredibly musically talented. I highly recommend this album, particularly to those people who feel the need to expand their musical horizons.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Chilly Funk
12 Jan 2013
By J. Ortiz Rivera
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Jason Charles Beck is known for being a self-proclaimed musical genius, and though I may not be an expert in the intricacies of music theory or the traits that characterize a true musical genius, is I were to base my opinion on pure intuition, I would say that he is because of the delightful combinations of chords, rhythms that surprise you, and accidentals and modulations that somehow fit perfectly in the context of the song. Chilly knows how to write music that perks up the metaphorical ears. Even though his Solo Piano albums are his best works, Ivory Tower still ranks high because of its diversity and playability.
0 of 7 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
slightly above average, with some absolute stormers in there :)
15 July 2011
By peter
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
here are my track rankings:
knight moves - 4/5 stars
i am europe - 5/5 stars
bittersuite - 3/5 stars
smothered mate - 4/5 stars
the grudge - 3/5 stars
roco chanel - 4/5 stars
never stop - 3/5 stars
pixel paxil - 5/5 stars
you can dance - 5/5 stars
crying - 3/5 stars
final fantasy - 3/5 stars
siren song - 4/5 stars
never stop (chilly gonzales rap version) - 1/5 stars
average - 3.3/5 stars.
they were probably slightly positively skewed (say by upto 1/2 a star each) due to the fact that i paid for the cd ;)
knight moves - 4/5 stars
i am europe - 5/5 stars
bittersuite - 3/5 stars
smothered mate - 4/5 stars
the grudge - 3/5 stars
roco chanel - 4/5 stars
never stop - 3/5 stars
pixel paxil - 5/5 stars
you can dance - 5/5 stars
crying - 3/5 stars
final fantasy - 3/5 stars
siren song - 4/5 stars
never stop (chilly gonzales rap version) - 1/5 stars
average - 3.3/5 stars.
they were probably slightly positively skewed (say by upto 1/2 a star each) due to the fact that i paid for the cd ;)
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 3 reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
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