ALBUM REVIEW: JERKCURB - AIR CON EDEN
 |
| ©℗2019 Handsome Dad Records |
Jerkcurb
Air Con Eden
Album Review
■■■■□
Air Con Eden
Album Review
■■■■□
Since the release of his first single, Midnight Snack, in 2016, Jerkcurb has introduced a generation to a collection of sonic qualities that really can't be named by anyone except Jacob Read himself; Voodoo Saloon, Shadowshow, and Aquarena Springs are just a few of the autological track titles under the singer-songwriter's belt.
Perhaps due to Read's favoured guitar tuning (EADF#BE), which encourages major seventh chord voicings, most of the songs on Air Con Eden have a distinct warmth that can be compared to artists like Bill Withers, Chet Baker, and one of Jerkcurb's most popular contemporaries (and childhood friend), King Krule. The temperature of the album is coupled by the theme of time; the fear of it passing, the apprehension of wasting it, and the desperation to spend it with the right person. Read conveys these themes with vocals that cry, shout and plead in a determined, confident tone that perfectly evokes a character in the world of Air Con Eden.
Perhaps due to Read's favoured guitar tuning (EADF#BE), which encourages major seventh chord voicings, most of the songs on Air Con Eden have a distinct warmth that can be compared to artists like Bill Withers, Chet Baker, and one of Jerkcurb's most popular contemporaries (and childhood friend), King Krule. The temperature of the album is coupled by the theme of time; the fear of it passing, the apprehension of wasting it, and the desperation to spend it with the right person. Read conveys these themes with vocals that cry, shout and plead in a determined, confident tone that perfectly evokes a character in the world of Air Con Eden.
A pacy, flashing guitar riff acts as a prologue to this album, as Shadowshow demonstrates Jerkcurb's ability to play with melodies and vocal harmonies in unison. The song, however, would be far less interesting without the drumming capabilities of George Bass; As a musician so in tune with his art form, he can usually only be truly appreciated in live sessions (see King Krule's performance of Rock Bottom for The Fader's Brooklyn Bound series) - studio recordings rarely do him justice, but his performance on Air Con Eden is raw enough to display his talent in full effect. Bass' best performance comes with the start of the second half of the album, with track 7's Morpheus' Arms.
If you are yet to listen to any of Read's work, I implore you to give this album a listen. With a variety of instruments and tones, Air Con Eden's production never gets tiresome. The closing track, Night on Earth (released as a single in 2016 alongside track 6, Midnight Snack), was my most listened to song of 2018; I promise the duration of this album is not only worth the wait, but that you will thoroughly enjoy the journey.
10/26/19
James Roe
jroe1@hotmail.co.uk
Comments
Post a Comment