Fugu 1

Fugu 1 Artist: Fugu
Label: Minty Fresh
Category: Music


Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1


UPC: 796627004124
EAN: 0796627004124
ASIN: B00005NTQL


Release Date: 2001-09-04

Fugu 1


Related Categories:

General General
Categories | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop Rock Pop Rock
Categories | Pop | Styles | Music
French Pop French Pop
Categories | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
Indie Rock Indie Rock
Categories | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
General General
Categories | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Chamber Pop Chamber Pop
Categories | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Tracks:

  1. The Best Of Us
  2. Grand Celesta
  3. Sol Y Sombra
  4. Variations Fitzwilliam
  5. Triple Bass
  6. Vibravox
  7. Oua Oua
  8. Ondulations
  9. Monocorde
  10. Baragan
  11. Tsimbalon
  12. Au Depart
  13. Meanwhile
  14. Clavipluck
  15. Angel Fair With Golden Hair
  16. Pianolyre

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Amazon.com

Although Laetitia Sadier (of Stereolab) and John Cunningham (of High Lamas) certainly leave their mark on their contributions to <I>Fugu, Vol.1</I>, the debut from French pop maestro Fugu (and his 20-piece orchestra) has much more to offer. The beautifully composed piano and organ pieces here are embellished by harpsichord, strings, siren, and even a wailing baby, with much of the album sounding like fellow Brian Wilson obsessives Gorky's Zygotic Mynci. Indeed, the rural lyrics on "Baragan" sound spookily similar to that band's brand of gentle psychedelic folk-pop. But Fugu's romance isn't with a mythical folk heritage. The complex, polished harmonies of tracks like "Triple Bass" recall <I>Pet Sounds</I>, and "Pianolyre" is like an acid-driven trip to the fairground via <I>Sgt. Pepper's</I>. It's light yet intimate '60s pop all the way for Fugu, and thank God he decided to take us along. <I>--Caroline Butler</I>

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Fluffy Baroque Pop.......2003-10-04

If there's anything that can be described as 'fluffy baroque pop', Fugu 1 might be it. At first, it sounded like late Stereolab meeting 'Pet Sounds' era Beach Boys. But upon listening to it further, it's basically a mix of sweet 60's pop, lush melodies, with baroque-style instruments, eg, harpsichords and strings. Fugu's vocals (shades of Gilbert O Sullivan) is accompanied by delicate candy-coated music, that soothes but has enough bite to it as the sametime. It almost as if Fugu may have gone to the Sean O'Hagan or Brian Wilson school of music, yet has a degree in Medieval or Baroque history. A tad thin on range, Fugu 1 gradually becomes tiresome, but this 'period piece pop' is interesting enough where it might be worth a listen.

3 out of 5 stars Frustrating.......2002-09-19

I don't know - maybe I got a different album. This album is one of those frustrating ones that you end up never playing because of a few songs. The baby crying one? Oh my. What were they thinking. I am all for exprimental tunes, but the baby has to go. That is the one that immediately comes to mind.
Half of the album is wonderful, brillant, catchy. The other half is tedious and annoying.
I bought this used thinking it would be a steal, but now i may burn the few tracks i like and resell it.

darn.

5 out of 5 stars Simply faboo.......2001-09-26

I don't think the power of my prose could match that of our fellow pop fan in NYC, but I will definitely second the notion that 'Fugu 1' is a wonderful piece of contemporary post-orch. Fans of 'Pet Sounds,' the High Llamas, Nilsson, Stereolab (they're touring together this fall!), Katerine, Emitt Rhodes, and any other bit of well-crafted pop should appreciate 'Fugu 1'. It's a great summer-time, roll the windows down and drive kind of album. Too bad summer's coming to a close, but you do have a few good weeks in the sun with this disc. Hop to it!

5 out of 5 stars Great Album for fans of great pop masterpieces!.......2001-09-14

Mehdi Zannad, a gifted French multi-instrumentalist, leads Fugu. Full of
archetypal pop references and sweeping shots of symphonic wonder, Fugu 1 is
a proverbial sound maze where each instrument deftly follows it's
predetermined path. The little untitled piece opening Fugu 1 - a blend of
piano intermingling with a series of minor and major chords, a cello, a
trumpet, an organ, a splash of ocean for sonic background, a dusting of
kitchen noises, and a dry, soft bass line weaving a spider web - sets the
tone for the entire album. Wander between vivid strings, woodwind, brass
and choir; follow the harpsichords surrounding Mehdi Zannad's fragile
voice, so shy that it blends in with the surrounding soundscapes. This is
lush pop - orchestral, continental, and classic - mining touchstones from
The Beatles, Beach Boys, and Harry Nilsson to early-Stereolab and The
Apples In Stereo. But Mehdi is no mere retro-worshipping revisionist,
Fugu's approach results in exuberant, melodic music as relevant as the air
shimmering with Fugu's music from your speakers to your ears. Even
Stereolab's Laetitia Sadier brings her talents to the party, lending her

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