MARBECKS RARE: Pigalle

Pigalle is the result of a song-writing journey that took Grater house-sitting across NZ, to colourful Argentina for Carnival, to the bright lights of LA and to the warm shores of Italy. Her final destination was romantic Paris, and this is where she lived alone and penniless for a year, trying to make a new band and enough money to record her next album.

"I figured, why be a poor musician in New Zealand when I could be a starving musician in Paris? At least that had a romantic air to it!" - Flip Grater

The album is named after the Paris quarter in which is was recorded, at the famous Studio Pigalle - one of the oldest studios in Paris. Its situation in the heart of Pigalle, surrounded by brothels and guitar shops and a few steps away from the Moulin Rouge was the perfect setting to record this gritty and honest album. The area has inspired many of France's finest musicians and artists, from Serge Gainsbourg (who recorded at the same studio) to Edith Piaf (who was a Pigalle street performer) to painters who lived in the area such as Picasso and Dali.

Pigalle is Flip Grater's fourth full-length album, following on from 2006's Cage For A Song, 2008's Be All And End All and 2010's VNZMA Folk Album Of The Year Finalist - While I'm Awake I'm At War.