Nichol Robertson Turns Instrumental Country Into a Moonlit Conversation on Mimico Moonlight

The Toronto guitarist’s sophomore album feels playful, nimble, and more composed. Backed by the Sadies’ rhythm section, Robertson threads twang, jazz, and lounge glow into 11 instrumental pieces that feel built for both motion and mood.

I hear Mimico Moonlight as the work of a guitarist who knows exactly how much space to leave between notes. Nichol Robertson’s sophomore album is an 11-track instrumental set, and the and points to hot-pickin’ country, dreamy ballads, and jazz romps. That mix sounds unruly on paper, but on the record it reads as balance. Nimble picking, warm pulse, and a dry. Backed by the Sadies’ Mike Belitsky and Sean Dean, Robertson seems especially strong when the arrangements tilt from barroom swagger into something more reflective. I keep coming back to the title track and pieces like “Wizard-Eye Boogie” and “Ode to CJ LeBlanc” because they suggest a writer who can be both affectionate and sly without losing the album’s cohesion. Robertson makes an album that can sit in the background and still reward close listening.

(•)> That's all, Folks! Check out Nichol Robertson on the Pigeon Opinion Playlist