Lisa Germano: Magic Neighbor (CD on Young God Records)

Band: Lisa Germano
Label: Young God Records
Title: Magic Neighbor

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Band:Lisa Germano
Title:Magic Neighbor
Reviewed By:Lisa Torem
Date Published:07/11/2009

Label:Young God Records
Format:CD
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Indiana-born singer-songwriter Lisa Germano’s second album ‘Magic Neighbor’ was produced after a period of self-examination and an unexpected musical awakening. The opener ‘Marypan’ contains instrumental melodies that twitter like fairy tales on wings and stream through violin passages. Like many of the subsequent tracks, Germano plays with time – some tunes are short like this one and others trail off into a nostalgic neverland.

‘To The Mighty One’ features her warm vocal drone – she rhapsodises about wanting to be in control - "Sitting all alone here/ waiting to be new/so I’ll make up a story/I am in control today." She explores this new feeling and then asks "How does it feel?/It’s a beautiful day." Her lyrics drift into non-sequitors and back to cohesive thought, all the while engaging us in liquid imagery embellished once more by strings and piano.

Germano’s compositional talent on piano bears mention – her passages are sometimes brittle, sometimes brief, but completely engaging and mood-provoking. Sometimes the melodies swerve out of control along with veering tempo adjustments, but her reassuring vocal tones continually bring us back to the start.

‘Simple’ suggests "Now that the day is done/I won’t see anyone" in the A' section and then in the B section, a cartoonish sound-scheme surprisingly takes over. ‘Kitty Train’ again pivots on dainty piano phrasings and a 'dish ran away with the spoon’ Mother Goose- like flavour.

‘ The Prince of Pati’ is a quivering ballad that asks, ‘Can’t we be happy just for today?/Can I cry on your shoulder, ok" As you can see this fairy-tale innocence threads through out the album.

‘A Million Times’ features Germano singing "We fell in love/We were caught/We had more fun when we were strangers." There’s uncluttered acoustic guitar and hushed harmonies underlying these words.

‘Magic Neighbor’ has a melody not too adrift from a Chopin etude, but the unconventional quixotic lyrics bring you back to our era; "He must be God/He can turn cats into furniture," she observes.

‘Suli-Man’ sounds like a Bela Bartok student study. Germano drives home a sturdy phrase as the piano prances about like Tinkerbelle surveying a muted fairy forest.

The fragile snails-pace of ‘Snow’ which segues into bitter dissonance is enchanting. And the closer, ‘Cocoon’ comes alive with timid, halting arpeggios as Germano whispers ‘Make the butterflies go away/Somewhere I can see them.’

This kind of Lewis Carroll word play against melodies as intricate as Queen Anne’s lace makes for a haunting collection.

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Surreally haunting and dream-like tenth album from American singer-songwriter, Lisa Germano

Lisa Germano:Interview
Lisa Torem chats to cult artist Lisa Germano about her album, 'No Elephants', and working with Calexico, Johnny Marr, Michael Gira and the Smashing Pumpkins

Lisa Germano:Interview
One of America's most unorthodox singer-songwriters and the veteran of eight albums, Lisa Germano talks to Sarah Johnson about her haunting new album 'In the Maybe World'

Lisa Germano:Interview
Former 4AD star Lisa Germano has not released an album for the last five years, but is now back with a new record 'Lullaby for Liquid Pig' and also 'Best of' and rarities compilations. David McNamee talks to her about her comeback

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Magic Neighbor - CD
Surreally haunting and dream-like tenth album from American singer-songwriter, Lisa Germano

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