NEWS
EVENTS
Jacco Gardner takes us on a journey into psychedelic rock
Indie | Wednesday 3rd June 2015 | Carl
Psychedelic musician Jacco Gardner released his second album Hypnophobia last month. We review his new adventures through the past and the future.
First off, we should say we love Jacco Gardner's work. His first LP Cabinet of Curiosities released in 2013, was a brillant tribute to baroque pop music from the sixties, and it still sounds as good today. Following this release, Gardner was considered a chief of the growing psychedelic music movement. Artists and bands like Temples, Paperhead, Morgan Delt and Doug Tuttle claim they find inspiration by listening to Jacco Gardner's work.
Hypnophobia's artwork could be a film poster rather than a record sleeve. In fact, this LP is a cinematic one. The production stays close to the codes of pop music but some elements take it far away from classic song structures. Forget short tunes like Syd Barrett's 'Lady Jane', 'Chameleon' or 'Summer's Game' from the last LP, this new project makes space for streched, long and meditative tracks.
The album cover is signed by Julian House, a designer who's already worked with the band Broadcast, who also happen to be one of Gardner's favourite bands from the growing psychedelic revival scene. Gardner has been influenced by their music and this is clear on several songs of Hypnophobia.
Jacco Gardner is a man who prefers to work in the studio. He loves live music and gigs but his passion lies in the studio, where he can create melodic and weird soundscapes. You could call his LP retro-futuristic. The bassline on 'Grey Lanes' reminds us of the French band Air during their The Virgin Suicides period at the end of the nineties. 'Before The Dawn' is an 8-minute odyssey that begins slowly to end on something really new and very surprising. Gardner shows off his songwriting talent and there are moments on Hypnophobia where you feel disconnected from the real world and immersed in his.
Finally, this record is a grower. Everytime we listen to it, the structure and the songs seem to be more and more impressive. Discover it for yourself.
Follow Jacco Gardner on Twitter.
