Lisa Germano
Magic Neighbor

THE REVIEW

She's back!

Lisa Germano, American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, is undoubtedly one of the best revelations of the '90s. "Geek the Girl," her concept album released by 4AD in 1994 - while here in Italy "A che ora è la fine del mondo?" by Luciano Ligabue was being printed [...] -, is without a doubt one of the most fascinating and successful masterpieces of its era, and not just its era. In that emotional universe, mistakenly called a record, Germano subjected herself to a psychoanalysis session with herself, confronting both remote phobias and anxieties and those of recent torment, while simultaneously delivering some of the most honest and truthful shivers and inquietudes (just recall "...A Psychopath," where Germano's melancholy whisper was accompanied by an "original" recording of a phone call made to 911 by a woman in the throes of despair due to the presence of an intruder in her house).

Times change. Lisa has grown, and her music has changed with her. Unfortunately? No. Although this record is not "Geek the Girl" and despite the fact that the latter will remain unbeaten forever, without exaggeration, every note recorded by Germano, any sound emitted from her mouth deserves more than a little attention. Her honesty and her talent provide emotions and a solemn credibility in any case. And that alone is enough.
 
But this "Magic Neighbor" - released in September of last year, by Young God Records - is a good record regardless of what has just been said. It is an adult record. Where the unique melancholic streak of the author is this time tainted by an almost perpetual piano accompaniment and the inevitable violin threads that are surprisingly more satisfied than usual, almost serene. Germano's voice is always dreamy but less childlike and less anxious than usual. As if there has been an awareness, a stand taken against her torments.

Has this holy woman finally found peace? Once the unrepeatability of "Geek the Girl" is established, there's nothing left but to wish it for her. For her sake.