Nico - These Days Album: Chelsea Girl [1967]
although "chelsea girl" was the first full album from the german-born christa päffgen, it was not her debut solo effort. prior to becoming involved with the velvet underground, nico issued an obscure 7" single in 1965 which featured a cover of gordon lightfoot's "i'm not sayin'" and an oldham co-composition with jimmy page called "last mile" that foreshadowed the eclectic nature of this LP. although the dissolution between the vocalist and core instrumental quartet was not without its share of acrimony, the non-percussive contingent of the velvet underground is heavily featured on chelsea girl: there is lou reed (guitar), sterling morrison (guitar/bass), and john cale (piano/bass/viola), who contrast what they had been doing with the larger combo. these sides are decidedly "unplugged," providing a folky and baroque setting for nico's dark and brooding vocal inflections. the minimalist string section features a quaint, yet effective arrangement giving the material a distinctly european feel. the juxtaposition of such honest and at times harrowing imagery to nico's bleak delivery is nothing short of an inspired artistic statement which has since long outlasted its initial socially relevant context. an unqualified masterpiece.
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