Off the wall, crazy but absolutely loveable
stewart | Issicks | 03/24/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I first heard Gonzales when I happened to hear track 2 'real mutherf**kin music' which has lush warm electronic harmonies with pounding beats and got me hooked. So I bought the album and so it surprised me with just-how-good it is. Seriously, the tracks ae all unrelated and no doubt the work of Chilly Gonzales (the self depicted 'jewish supervillin of Berlin'-mad)reaching into his bag of samples and beats and producing a veritable christmas present of seriously catchy tunes and breaks. Tracks like 'why don't we disapear' are indie styled but very much happier and funkier, while 'let's groove again' is far more rock based with instrumentals that, while sounding like Chris Isaak's guitar albeit out of key, go with the inspired rest-think UNKLE but faster and better. My personal favourite bit on the album is when it starts and the track is almost like AIR in it's one simple melody, almost classical, very soothing, almost melancholy. Then you hear a dub voice in the background screaming 'chilly gonzaleeeeeeeeeees', the harmonies rise and the pounding beats of 'real mutherf**kin music start. grinningly fantastic. This album is definately worth a try if your into electronica with a self mocking smile on it's face and a hefty dollop of base. Wierd and wonderful."
This is what hardcore Jewish Hip-Hop sounds like
Gal Uchovsky | Tel Aviv, Israel | 01/28/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It is very hard to define Gonzales. He is a Jew from Canada living in East Berlin and his music is a little crazy or at least weird. Gonzales says on the sleeve notes: "It will take a Jewish supervillain to rule over the Berlin underground and to lead it into defeat". I hope he understands whatever that means. The CD itself is a mix of hip-hop, lounge, home made electronica all presented in a pretentious avant-garde mockery. Well maybe my description is too artistic. So let's rephrase: "Gonzales uber alles" is a fun record that sounds like something Woody Allen, Howard Stern and the Beastie Boys recorded after a night of too much beer."