Where to start with Canadian ivory tinkler Chilly Gonzales? His famed piano talk shows, where he plays up the role of Jewish supervillain MC with aplomb? Or perhaps his long running love affair with electroclash and its offspring electro house? Or his Guinness world record for longest piano solo? (27 hours, 3 minutes and 44 seconds, if you’re asking). It doesn’t matter really – the man is a leftfield genius, a talented musician, and, above all, an entertainer.

His new album, the Ivory Tower, is on the verge of release, and features German electro producer Boys Noize aka Alex Ridha on production duties. As well as showcasing Gonzales’ mastery on the piano and Ridha’s impressively subtle production nous, it also contains some of the best lyrics in recent memory, on lead single “I Am Europe”: (“I’m socialist lingerie, I’m diplomatic techno, I’m gay pastry and racist cappuccino” ). Juno Plus caught up with Chilly to discuss Ivory Tower, playing to sloppy ears and why Tiga is a ham.

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