By Keith Walsh
Gilles Snowcat, working with various keyboards and electronic percussion instruments, is back with a decidedly fresh set of summer tunes. The long title is Last Summer On The Beach (We Were Drinking Limoncello) with a parenthetical phrase suggesting that there were stories told after the events, either to be savored, or to exonerate the participants from their actions (likely, in the case of this naughty Belgian singer/songwriter.)
The opening track is rerecording of “You’ve Been Drinking My Limoncello,” originally from his previous album (You’ve Been Unboxing Gilles Snowcat). It’s a refreshingly bouncy reggae version, featuring stellar musicianship, and Gilles’ smoky baritone seducing his way into the beachside romance that follows. The previous version was fun and raw, while this new version is glossier and more seductive.
Since his first band Awaken, he has gone through punk, electronic, psychedelic and jazzy phases — but Snowcat is a lover at heart. The second tune on the EP, “Lemon Body Scrub” describes a naughty amorous adventure, with verses taking place in the shower, and some “countryside education — getting drunk with the farmers” taking place perhaps as some kind of sabbatical or withdrawal from the pressures of society.
A cover of “Just How Many Times” by Cold Chisel (who hail from Australia) is a poignant ballad, in a kind of New Orleans jazz style, and a stunning harmonica solo by Patrick Deltenre. The second cover is a sweetly mellow “Blue Wave,” a cover of the legendary Guyanese-British artist Eddy Grant. It’s a pleasant vibe, keeping with the Caribbean flavor of the EP.
Gilles Snowcat is never wanting for an assembly of fine performers. Last Summer On The Beach features (in rough order of appearance) the aforementioned Patrick Deltenre on guitars, Nicolas Leroy on bass guitar, Mr. Beaver on drums, Glen Llewellyn Smith on backing vocals, Paul G. on guitars, Sébastien Bournier on drums, Bill Beyer on guitars, and hetpampa on bass guitar.
Like so many summer romances, Last Summer On The Beach ends where it starts, with another version of “You’ve Been Drinking My Limoncello.” Rinse, and repeat!
(Disclaimer: I lent my keyboard skills to the first and last track, and background vocals on tracks 1 and 2, as my alter ego, Brick Bosso.)
“Lemon slices” Photo by Jeremy Bezanger on Unsplash.com
Gilles-Snowcat dot com
Gilles Snowcat ‘Nama Time’ On Synthbeat.com
Gilles Snowcat on Bandcamp
Gilles Snowcat On Spotify
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