Reviews 156: Gigi Masin
Earlier this year, Gigi Masin self-released a wonderful collection of songs entitled Kite. This release saw him meditating on the concept of change…of how memories give way to new beginnings, which he beautifully describes as follows: “Maybe a change is like crossing a bridge, following a kite that finds its meaning in the wind, its motive for searching the horizon and stealing another dream.” The music of Kite is meditative and spiritual, with lush vocal pads and soft-hued electronics cloaking Gigi’s romantic piano journeys. And though the album was released digitally, DJ Funnel’s Astrollage imprint has graciously pressed two of its songs on vinyl for the Kite 7”, which sees the sky-high beauty and aquatic atmospheres of the title track backed by Haruka Nakamura’s masterful chillout remix of “Irish Dove.”
Gigi Masin - Kite 7” (Astrollage, 2018)
The softly bubbling bass atmospheres that anchor “Kite” are joined by vibraphone tones locked into ultra-slow arpeggiations, which throughout the track appear like visages of glowing diamonds glimpsed beneath the surface of a calming sea. A background layering of mermaid choirs breaks through the peaceful ocean waves while glorious piano chords and their soulful balearica carry us away on warm currents of air. Percolating kosmische sequences fade in and dance through the mix alongside keys moving in counterpoint under aquatic delays, adding a touch of interstellar enchantment to the beauteous dreamscape of blue sky ambiance. It’s the feeling of drifting amongst the clouds while also floating deep underwater, as rainbow streaks of color swirl all around.
The original version of “Irish Dove” hovers above 9 minutes and is a harmonious dreamworld of twinkling pianos, angelic voices, and cold synth wind. But the track becomes something else entirely in the hands of Haruka Nakamura, who adds to the frozen industrial sound blasts a muscular yet minimal downtempo rhythm with organic drum hits double-tracked and sitting slightly out of phase and cavernous synthbass lines that wrap the body in euphoric power. Voices filtered through telephone fx and the original track’s piano lines are run in reverse while Yudai Suzuki weaves mesmeric trumpet and flugelhorn cascades wherein expressive solo runs intertwine with mellow hues of midnight blue. An ambient interlude of static approximating oceanic waves sees Yudai ascending to solar realms, as if Miles himself is playing down from the heavens. And after returning to the downbeat drift and hallucinatory brass tapestries, Haruka transitions us into an outro comprised of frigid synth wind and heart aching horn fantasias.
(images from my personal copy)
