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Magic Nigel

by Greg Segal

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about

Nigel is a carved, painted wooden flying frog from Bali.
His mythology (as distinct from his personal history), assembled and paraphrased here from various online sources, is as follows.

The Flying Frog is a type of winged spirit guardian, sometimes called Cradle Guardians. Their story is as old as the roots of Balinese culture. The carvings are used in temples or homes since ancient times to ward off evil spirits and/or protect its surroundings from harm. They're always hung in a high spot, watching over things.

Frog symbolism is rich to begin with. A regular frog symbolizes transformation since it starts its life in the water as a tadpole and changes to a creature which can live on either land or water. A flying frog represents the next stage of metamorphosis, to a creature which can be at home in water on land and also in the air. It is representative of change and transformation on a spiritual level. Flying frogs are also considered bringers of luck, since they can connect and communicate between the elements of water, earth and air.

Flying frogs are often seen as protectors and hung over babies' cribs who are transforming from spirit into physical body.

When you see a flying frog, think of protection, transformation, and good luck.

Now for Nigel's personal history- at least, where he comes into my history with him.

Emily Papa and I were living together under some very tight financial circumstances; this was when we were still living in L.A. I had a birthday coming up and she wanted to get me something but there was not enough money. I was playing a gig at a local record store, and before the show, she took a walk. There on the sidewalk, with no one else around, were two folded $20 bills. She used this to get me a gift; this was the Cosmic 40. The gift was Nigel.

Nigel was named after a real and sadly short-lived frog. I found him among a bunch of other newly formed frogs, trying to find a safe place. I took him (?) home. I found out how to take care of a frog, or so I thought, and did my best to keep him alive. I had been told by someone at a pet shop to put gravel on the floor of his enclosure. Nobody told me it should be sufficiently bigger than him, and he ate one and died. So when the Nigel of this story came in, I thought it would be nice to pass the name on.

A little card was attached to Nigel's cord, by which he hung from the ceiling. The card gave the background of Flying Frogs. I didn't have kids, but I figured I'd hang him over my bed to keep on eye on things when I slept, or wasn't around.

Nigel traveled with Emily and I through 3 living spaces and two states. Then he moved with Chrissy and I twice.

When we had kids, Nigel got to fulfill his role as Cradle Guardian. He stayed in the girls' room until they were entering their teens. He would have stayed longer but he was accidentally knocked off the ceiling when I was putting up bunk beds. His wing broke and he needed repair. I took him down to the studio, glued his wing back together, and set him aside. Unfortunately I never hung him back up, and he has stayed with me in the studio to this day.

When I was putting this album together, I purposely did it with no back story or concept. Once the music took shape, I had to come up with something for a title. Nigel was there. Emily was seriously ill. So Nigel got the job as star of the album, returning from retirement. Some changes to the music took place after this, and some of it was added to tie in better with the concept.

And here we are.

Nigel and Greg would like to thank Emily Papa for her magical facilitation and good taste.

credits

released March 25, 2024

Recorded at Phantom Airship 7, at various times before 2023, through it, and finished in March of 2024.

Featuring lots of instruments played by GS, who wrote all the music, owns all the rights, and also did the cover.

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Greg Segal Portland, Oregon

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