FUGU
Fugu 1 (Minty Fresh)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Like the master chefs who carve the tasty bits out of the potentially deadly Japanese blowfish, fugu, a pop composer is faced with a somewhat hazardous task. Unlike the fugu chef, the composer is unlikely to actually cause death to his consumers. It's easy enough, though, to kill a pop career early on with a clumsy arrangement of the elements of pop.

The lineage is illustrious - Holly, McCartney, Wilson loom large in the pantheon - and for music that's generally regarded as confectionery, expectations run high. I mean, if you've already got Rubber Soul and Pet Sounds, what's the point, really? Well, the point is that every once in a pretty damn long while someone pops up who both respects the tradition and yet can actually offer a fresh, personal approach to the form. Mehdi Zannad, the French mastermind behind Fugu, is one of those who make the point, and he makes it exceedingly well.

Some of the music on Fugu 1 has been in gestation since the mid-90's, with tracks appearing on a variety of split singles, compilations and an EP. These recording forays have been released in Spain, Japan, France and Britain, slowly building an international reputation. Over the course of time, this 18 track album length CD emerged. Mehdi called on the talents of over 20 players, including strings, a horn section and a guest vocalist appearance by Stereolab's Laetita Sadier, to decorate his tunes in a manner fitting a George Martin or Phil Spector. In other words, it's a brilliant first effort, worth every moment of the years dedicated to creating it, and every moment you'll spend playing it over and over again.

Track List:

(*) * The Best Of Us * Grand Celesta * Sol Y Sombra * Variations Fitzwilliam * Triple Bass * Vibravox * Oua Oua * Ondulations * Monocorde * Baragan * Tsimbalon * (*) * Au Depart * Meanwhile * Clavipluck * Angel Fair with Golden Hair * Pianolyre

© 2001 - Shaun Dale