Cabinet Of Curiosities

Sound DNA

• Rock
• Psych Rock

• shimmering
• whimsical
• psychedelic

About

Neo-psychedelic pop gets a fresh coat of day-glo color on <i>Cabinet of Curiosities</i>, Jacco Gardner’s pleasingly quirky debut album. The Left Banke, The Zombies, Paul Mauriat, and Syd Barrett are among the acid-dipped reference points that come to mind when hearing these tracks. Dutch singer/multi-instrumentalist Gardner fashions something personal out of these vintage components, exploring themes of childhood innocence and disillusionment as he interweaves harpsichords, Mellotrons, and woodwinds into whimsical tapestries of sound. Moody undercurrents and spritely melodies blend in tunes like “Watching the Moon,” “Chameleon," and “The Ballad of Little Jane,” suggesting threatening shadows amid trippy washes of sunlight. From the shimmery vocal overlays of “Clear the Air” to the quivery baroque embellishments of “Help Me Out,” Gardner expertly combines tones and textures here. The kaleidoscope-like imagery of “Puppets Dangling,” “Lullaby," and similar exalted-yet-eerie numbers invoke the wonders and dangers of mind expansion. Gardner’s watery, plaintive lead vocals provide a human lifeline amid the alien landscapes.

via Apple Music

Tracklist

Credits