Jacco Gardner – Cabinet of Curiosities (2013)

In 2010's there have been quite a few signs of possible return of progressive rock. I have certainly really been thrilled about that idea. I was really into progressive rock as a teenager and I think it would be great to modernise that sound, because, let's face it, most of those 70's prog rock albums sound very old nowadays. Dutch multi-instrumentalist Jacco Gardner has made just that. Modernised progressive rock. His songs are filled with strange rhythm changes and progressive melodies. It's like a combination of prog rock and 60's psychedelia, but the sounds are a lot more modern. I think I first heard this album after I discovered it on some record store's top-100 list of the year 2013. I was thrilled about the sounds right from the beginning, but it took me a while to really start loving the songs. I bought the CD second hand at a local record shop here in London.



This album cover is just phenomenal. The colours of the forest are quite magical and if you look closely, you might even see a camouflaged giraffe in the picture. This is why vinyl would be a lot nicer. It would be easier to find small hidden objects in nice album covers. Unfortunately I only have a CD, but then again, it's in a nice cardboard case which makes the album quite a cool object nevertheless.

To my slight disappointment, Jacco Gardner's later albums haven't made such a strong impression on me as this debut album. Maybe I should give the more time, but at least now it feels like this was the highlight of his career. If you listen to lots of 60's and 70's music, I'm sure you'll love this album. There's only one other album I can think of that comes close to similar sounds and that is Lennon & Claypool Delirium's prog rock album from couple of years back.

The album starts with a magical baroque pop intro in the song Clear the Air. This song sets the mood perfectly for a magical journey through retro psychedelia that is this album. The One Eyed King tones the tempo down a bit. This folky song has great bouncy bass sounds and crazy melodies full of mystique. Puppets Dangling is a great growing fairytale song with curious melodies. Where Will You Go almost sounds like the hippiest Beatles songs in the Sgt. Pepper's era. The jumping bass lines and blinking glockenspiel's along with the strange vocal melodies make this a very interesting song. Watching the Moon sounds like early Pink Floyd. Throughout the album there is a strong resemblance to Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd, but nowhere else is it as strong as in this song. The title-track Cabinet of Curiosities is an instrumental song with some medieval melodies, child's laughter and mystical harpsichord sounds. The Riddle continues with catchy baroque pop melodies along with some beautiful synth and flute sounds. Lullaby is probably the only song on the album where an electric guitar sets the mood by itself. The lyrics sound like a children's riddle. Help Me Out has a very catchy melody and great sounds. Summer's Game has a nice melancholic, yet somehow warm and hopeful sound. It sounds perfect for wondering in a mystical forest. Chameleon has some elements that remind me of simple Finnish schlager songs. Except when it gets to pounding chorus that is more out of 60's garage psychedelia back catalogue. The album ends with a beautiful fairytale song The Ballad of Little Jane that is like straight out of Syd Barrett's pen.

Jacco Gardner doesn't seem to really put that much effort into his music videos, but at least there are some videos. The video for Summer's Game looks like it had been filmed in early 70's, which I guess is very apt for this album. It's very retro, but also done really well.

Listen to the album on Spotify.