Chilly Gonzales, Solo Piano III

[Gentle Threat]
Grade: B+

Canadian-bred, Europe-based pianist Chilly Gonzales might be best known for lending his expert ear as an arranger and producer for artists like Feist, Drake, and Daft Punk, but his own work over the past decade has been vital in repositioning keyboard composition in a modern context. The final part of his popular Solo Piano trilogy finds Gonzales, a.k.a. Jason Beck, in contemplative mode, with the brief tracks (all dedicated to various historical figures and musical inspirations) mostly following a quieter path—opening track “Treppen” sets the cinematic tone with its dark, hushed melody. Given Gonzales’ penchant for showmanship, the minimalist approach comes as a bit of a surprise, but the buildup of “Present Tense” (you can just picture the hand flourish off the keys at the end) and the dazzling arpeggios of “Blizzard In B Flat Minor” show off his virtuosic skill. A master player like Gonzales always has an ace up his sleeve: While those showier pieces grab attention on first listen, the more meditative ones slowly sink their hooks in, too.

RIYL: Jean-Michel Blais. Nils Frahm. Ólafur Arnalds.

Start here: With its shifting tones and nimble chord structure, “Present Tense” delivers more of Gonzales’ usual flair than the album’s more languid moments. [Tabassum Siddiqui]

Mothers, Render Another Ugly Method

[ANTI-]
Grade: B-

As many of Kristine Leschper’s peers in the indie-pop realm give themselves fully to the pursuit of pop music (i.e., Japanese Breakfast and Mitski), Mothers are heading in another direction. Fans of the Georgia four-piece’s 2016 debut, When You Walk A Long Distance You Are Tired, will likely be shocked by how little follow-up Render Another Ugly Method resembles its predecessor. Where the songs on Long Distance progressed in straight lines and paid homage to indie-rock conventions, Ugly Method is art rock indebted to the likes of Palm and even Deerhoof at its most muted. The album largely flips between deconstructionist rock songs (“Pink,” “Blame Kit”) and minimalist fare (“‘It Is A Pleasure To Be Here,’” “Mother And Wife”), and while both styles work well, they don’t always complement one another. All told, Render Another Ugly Method is a transitory step for Mothers, one that’s equally messy and compelling, showing that Leschper’s voice as a songwriter and singer remains her own, no matter how many effects she puts on top of it.

RIYL: Palm. Deerhoof. Animal Collective. Stereolab.

Start here: “Pink” plays to Leschper’s strengths while boldly showing her desire to break away from convention. [David Anthony]

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