Gin - Extended Play

Review by Heidi Slade

Gin Wigmore’s Extended Play – A Soulful Punch That Still Hits Hard Man, Gin Wigmore's Extended Play from 2008 is one of those albums that sneaks up on you. It's not just rock or pop—it's this wild mix of funk and neo-soul that feels like it came straight outta some smoky late-night jam session in Auckland or Sydney. And honestly? I can’t stop thinking about two tracks: "These Roses" and "Hallelujah." Let me tell ya why. "These Roses" hits different. Like, really different. From the first few seconds, Gin’s raspy voice grabs hold of you, raw and unapologetic. The lyrics are simple but cut deep—it's about love blooming through chaos, kinda messy yet beautiful all at once. You know when something feels so real, it almost hurts? That’s this song. Tony Buchen did an insane job producing; every layer sits perfectly without drowning her out. By the end, I swear I’ve got goosebumps. Every. Single. Time. Then there’s "Hallelujah," which flips the vibe completely. If “These Roses” is intimate, this one’s a full-on party starter. With its infectious groove and soulful swagger, it reminds me of dancing barefoot in someone’s kitchen at 2 AM after too many drinks. Kenny MacDonald nailed the engineering here—track 3 has this crispness to it that makes the bassline bounce right into your chest. And Gin’s writing? Damn. She doesn’t overthink it; she lets the melody carry the emotion. It’s playful, sexy, even a little cheeky. Just what you need when life gets heavy. What blows my mind is how universal this album feels despite being rooted in specific places—Australia, New Zealand, the US. Maybe that’s because soul music speaks louder than geography ever could. Or maybe it’s just Gin herself—her honesty pulls you in no matter where you’re from. I gotta say though, listening to Extended Play now feels bittersweet. Back then, Island Records and Universal Motown were banking big on artists who brought something fresh to the table. Nowadays? Feels like we’re drowning in cookie-cutter playlists. Makes me wish more people would take risks like this again. So yeah, if you haven’t spun Extended Play yet, do yourself a favor. Put it on during a road trip or while cleaning your room. Let Gin remind you what happens when talent meets guts—and zero fear of being anything less than authentic. Oh, and hey—fun fact: apparently Gin wrote these songs before she turned 20. How messed up is that? Kid had more wisdom in her pinky finger than most of us will ever have. Cheers to that.

Artist: Gin
Album: Extended Play

2008

Rating: 4.5

Review
About Album
Download
Tracks
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Catalog Numbers
Labels
Listen online
Formats
Companies
Credits
Notes
Barcodes
About Artist
Interesting fact
Related albums

Download

Filename: gin-extended-play.zip

MP3 size: 37 mb
FLAC size: 168 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Hallelujah	3:32
Easy Come Easy Go	3:01
S.O.S	3:05
These Roses	3:15
Under My Skin	2:51

Images

Catalog Numbers

1772831
B0012467-02

Labels

Island Records
Universal Motown
Island Records Australia

Listen online

lyssna på nätet
ouvir online
online luisteren
lytte på nettet
online anhören
ascolta in linea
écouter en ligne
escuchar en línea
kuunnella verkossa

Formats

CD
EP
Gatefold Slipcase
Gatefold Sleeve

Companies

Role	Company
Record Company	Universal Music New Zealand
Manufactured By	Stebbing Recording Centre Ltd.

Credits

Role	Credit
Producer	Tony Buchen
Engineer	Kenny MacDonald (tracks: 3)
Recorded By	Tony Buchen (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5)
Mixed By	Tony Buchen (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5)
Written-By	Gin Wigmore

Notes

Made in USA (disc reverse)
B00 124 6702 01$ EDC (disc reverse)
Gatefold slipcase houses 8 page lyric booklet in one side, disc in the other.
Incorrect ℗ & © lines on back cover and CD (should be Universal Music Australia who own the recordings)

Barcodes

Barcode: 0602517728318
Barcode: 6 02517 72831 8

About Gin

New Zealand singer and songwriter, born 6 June 1986 in Auckland, New Zealand. Married to .

Real Name

Virginia Claire Wigmore

Name Vars

G. Wigmore
Gin
Virginia Claire Wigmore

Members

Rocco Of The Snow

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s a cool fact: Gin Wigmore’s debut EP, *Extended Play*, released in 2008, was a DIY triumph. She wrote all the tracks herself, and Tony Buchen played a huge role in shaping the sound, producing, recording, and mixing most of the songs. Fun detail—track 3, "Under My Skin," had its own audio engineer, Kenny MacDonald, giving it a unique touch. The album blended genres like Neo Soul, Rock, and Funk, and gained traction in Australia, the US, and New Zealand. Not bad for an independent artist on major labels like Island Records and Universal Motown!