Jacco Gardner – Cabinet Of Curiosities (2013) review
Jacco Gardner “Cabinet Of Curiosities” (Trouble In Mind, 2013)
When ‘Clear The Air’ was first released on
seven inch single by Spain’s Action Weekend label a year or so ago, Jacco Gardner was being hailed in some quarters as the nu-psych wunderkind of these
ultra-modern days. Rightly so in some respects too, as this was someone who
obviously cared very much about the vibrant array of sounds a record bearing
his name would represent. However, those who’ve been keeping their eyes and
ears peeled for any flickerings on the psychedelic horizon these past few years
will have also detected that this young, all-round musician and enthusiastic,
motivated sound-scaper had also been one part of The Skywalkers, a gifted duo
who had also issued their own quite tremendous album of pop-psych-style
fixations courtesy of the mighty Grey Past label not so many years back. A
native of the Netherlands, Jacco Gardner is someone who is particularly taken
with the way records used to sound back in the 60s; getting that certain
placement of sound in the mix of various instruments is very important to him,
as this can also help determine, or at least accentuate whether any given song
is just alright, or whether it’s gonna be able to blow you, the listener, away.
A heavy influence here, and a mentor in some way for Gardner, is vintage
recording engineer Jan Audier, whose work back in the 60s would include such
legendary names as combustible beat punks par excellence, Q65!
seven inch single by Spain’s Action Weekend label a year or so ago, Jacco Gardner was being hailed in some quarters as the nu-psych wunderkind of these
ultra-modern days. Rightly so in some respects too, as this was someone who
obviously cared very much about the vibrant array of sounds a record bearing
his name would represent. However, those who’ve been keeping their eyes and
ears peeled for any flickerings on the psychedelic horizon these past few years
will have also detected that this young, all-round musician and enthusiastic,
motivated sound-scaper had also been one part of The Skywalkers, a gifted duo
who had also issued their own quite tremendous album of pop-psych-style
fixations courtesy of the mighty Grey Past label not so many years back. A
native of the Netherlands, Jacco Gardner is someone who is particularly taken
with the way records used to sound back in the 60s; getting that certain
placement of sound in the mix of various instruments is very important to him,
as this can also help determine, or at least accentuate whether any given song
is just alright, or whether it’s gonna be able to blow you, the listener, away.
A heavy influence here, and a mentor in some way for Gardner, is vintage
recording engineer Jan Audier, whose work back in the 60s would include such
legendary names as combustible beat punks par excellence, Q65!
Whilst containing some bright, shining
examples that assist in bringing forth high praise and acclaim, Cabinet Of Curiosities – Gardner’s debut
long-player – isn’t without its limitations. Personally, I feel that some parts
of it tend to be too samey, especially those passages that are decorated with a
particular little staccato-like keyboard pattern which sounds cheesy, then
(ahem) grates, and begins to annoy after a while, and yet seems to be in almost
every song. Now and then too the material can appear a little shallow sounding
and even somewhat hollow in places. Don’t get me wrong, I do like this album
but I’m trying to offer a little critical analysis, alongside some good
old-fashioned honesty. So while that hollow / empty feeling does kinda suit some
of the more stark, sometimes jarring atmospherics that Jacco and his small
group of cohorts display throughout the album – and that may also be the mood
some of the songs are trying to convey – I just feel that there’s rather a lot
of it going on and, for this listener in particular, it just sometimes gets in
the way of the overall enjoyment! However, as I’ve already said, I do like this
and think, as only one example of its accomplishments the song ‘Puppets
Dangling’ is one of the set’s true highlights; innovative sounding,
intriguingly crafted and played out, and wholly engaging to listen to.
examples that assist in bringing forth high praise and acclaim, Cabinet Of Curiosities – Gardner’s debut
long-player – isn’t without its limitations. Personally, I feel that some parts
of it tend to be too samey, especially those passages that are decorated with a
particular little staccato-like keyboard pattern which sounds cheesy, then
(ahem) grates, and begins to annoy after a while, and yet seems to be in almost
every song. Now and then too the material can appear a little shallow sounding
and even somewhat hollow in places. Don’t get me wrong, I do like this album
but I’m trying to offer a little critical analysis, alongside some good
old-fashioned honesty. So while that hollow / empty feeling does kinda suit some
of the more stark, sometimes jarring atmospherics that Jacco and his small
group of cohorts display throughout the album – and that may also be the mood
some of the songs are trying to convey – I just feel that there’s rather a lot
of it going on and, for this listener in particular, it just sometimes gets in
the way of the overall enjoyment! However, as I’ve already said, I do like this
and think, as only one example of its accomplishments the song ‘Puppets
Dangling’ is one of the set’s true highlights; innovative sounding,
intriguingly crafted and played out, and wholly engaging to listen to.
I was trying earlier to think of what it is that some of these
vignettes, and also that type of sound being sculpted out here reminded me of,
and after racking my brains, and dispelling with some of the more obvious Syd
Barrett / Floyds and Kevin Ayers / Softs reference points, I came to the
conclusion that what we have here is, at times, maybe closer to early 80s
English nu-pop psychster of his time, Nick Nicely – he of ‘Vox Dreams’, and, in
particular, ‘Hilly Fields (1892)’ infamy. In truth though, JC is not anywhere near as overtly bombastic and /or as
over the top as Mr Nicely was but I have to say, now and again, there definitely
are certain parallels within some of the rhythmic textures, the vocal phrasings and nuance, and too some
of the overall musical ambience for sure; check out the likes of ‘Riddle’ and
also’ The Ballad of Little Jane’ for starters.
vignettes, and also that type of sound being sculpted out here reminded me of,
and after racking my brains, and dispelling with some of the more obvious Syd
Barrett / Floyds and Kevin Ayers / Softs reference points, I came to the
conclusion that what we have here is, at times, maybe closer to early 80s
English nu-pop psychster of his time, Nick Nicely – he of ‘Vox Dreams’, and, in
particular, ‘Hilly Fields (1892)’ infamy. In truth though, JC is not anywhere near as overtly bombastic and /or as
over the top as Mr Nicely was but I have to say, now and again, there definitely
are certain parallels within some of the rhythmic textures, the vocal phrasings and nuance, and too some
of the overall musical ambience for sure; check out the likes of ‘Riddle’ and
also’ The Ballad of Little Jane’ for starters.
So anyway, if you’ve not yet wrapped your ears
around any of the sounds that young Jacco has been making, you definitely ought
to try to catch the afore-mentioned, heart-stoppingly great single ‘Clear The
Air’, and its counterpart ‘Watching The Moon’. ‘Summer’s Gone’ and ‘Where Will
I Go’ are pretty fine and rather sublime too. And if those float your merry
little craft then no doubt you will find much to be getting on with on this
here Cabinet Of Curiosities too.
around any of the sounds that young Jacco has been making, you definitely ought
to try to catch the afore-mentioned, heart-stoppingly great single ‘Clear The
Air’, and its counterpart ‘Watching The Moon’. ‘Summer’s Gone’ and ‘Where Will
I Go’ are pretty fine and rather sublime too. And if those float your merry
little craft then no doubt you will find much to be getting on with on this
here Cabinet Of Curiosities too.
Gardner has also been out and about appearing
hither and thon and halfway round the globe as well, and the feedback from
those who have already seen the live show is particulary positive.
hither and thon and halfway round the globe as well, and the feedback from
those who have already seen the live show is particulary positive.
Review made by Lenny Helsing/2013
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http://psychedelicbaby.blogspot.com/2013
http://psychedelicbaby.blogspot.com/2013
