Jacco Gardner - Cabinet of Curiosities

One of the NME’s tips for 2013 comes from the unlikely source of Nwaag in the Netherlands and judging by Jacco Gardner’s debut album ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’ they have backed a winner.

Gardner maybe a child of the 80s but musically he personifies all the great things about the late 60’s boom in rock-psyche music. Former single ‘Clean The Air’ is a sumptuous Syd Barrett number which will have Tame Impala fans flocking to Gardner’s cause. The Barrett comparisons will undoubtedly come thick and fast as ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’ continues to grow in popularity. There are however, far more strings to his bow than just Barrett-esque numbers.

‘One Eyed King’ delves into the world of the Beta Band and Steve Mason to produce something of stunning beauty. ‘Where Will You Go’ is the kind of melodic psychadelia Oasis were after with ‘Who Feels Love?’ but never quite grasped on ‘Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants’. It has the big melodic chord and key changes which Noel Gallagher has become synonymous with. The vocals have a gorgeous swirling motion which will inevitably cause the head to nod from start to finish.

The final two tracks of the album, whilst on message with the rest of album, have an uninhibited feel which takes this fine debut to the next level.  ‘Chameleon’ soars to the pop-psyche heights only Pond and Toy have travailed in recent times. The final track ‘The Ballad Of Little Jane’ is given all of Gardner’s superb production skills to yield a modern take on The Beatles’ ‘For The Benefit Of Mr Kite’.

Barring the drums, Gardner plays every instrument heard and produces as well. Every synth you hear is used with clear precision and coated in emotion to give each track sense of narrative which is what sets this album apart from most.