Gudrun Gut: I Put a Record On

I Put a Record On, the latest release from German artiste Gudrun Gut, is an utterly appealing blend of mellow electronics and quietly mixed vocals. What sets Gudrun Gut apart from other artists of her ilk is her willingness to incorporate non-traditional electronic sounds in what are essentially pop songs, if not exactly structured as such. Album opener “Move Me” is a beautiful bit of cut-up accordion and subtle percussion under whispered vocals, a combination that gives it an updated sort of old-time flavor. As the album progresses, it only seems to grow in confidence, as it lets loose with swing-flavored head-nodding like “Girlboogie 6” or the utterly infectious, throbbing bassline of “Pleasuretrain”. The electronics get cleaner, Ms. Gut’s vocals move up to the front a bit, but it remains throughout its entirety enough of a hypnotic, world-freezing work as to put you in a near permanent, pleasured stare. By the time piano-laden spoken-word closer “Tip Tip” shows up, there’s a good chance you’ll be staring at the ceiling in a sort of comatose bliss, wondering what exactly just happened. This, by the way, is a good thing; I Put a Record On is hypnotic and fascinating in all the right ways, and deserves the title of “sleeper hit”, even if it never achieves the latter half of said term.