Album Review; Air Con Eden
Holly Blackmore
the details;
Jacob ‘Jerkcurb’ Read is a South London local with a knack for making lo-fi tunes. His debut LP ‘Air Con Eden’ was released earlier this year, immediately garnering a cult following among fans. If you get down for Archy Marshall, Connan Mockasin or Thom Yorke, this one might be for you.
mood of the album;
Subtle heartbreak. Undercurrents of nostalgia & lost memories, flowing alongside woozy instrumentals. I’ll wait forever. Some serious Twin Peaks themes - in ‘Somerton Beach’ Jacob explores the story of an unknown man who washed up on Australian shores, in striking parallel to the discovery of Laura Palmer’s body in Lynch’s classic television series. Empty water parks & climate-controlled shopping malls. A flickering television showing the evening news bulletin. A sense of hope in recognising the hopelessness.
““In my air conditioning, where the seasons never change
You won’t feel a thing
Air Con Eden
That’s where I want to be
Live inside of a sea
And park without a fee”
perfect time/place to listen;
Late at night (or super early in the morning) when almost everybody else is asleep. Crack open the blinds & let the moonlight in. Immerse yourself in the album start to finish. Bathe in its lack of urgency. There is so much to be gained by listening slowly, thoughtfully & fully - honestly, I almost shed a tear the first time it played through.
top three tracks;
Shadowshow - The perfect sunrise/sunset tune. Hit play & sink into the sky.
Midnight Snack - This one opens with the haunting audio track of a man reflecting upon consumerism and ‘the good life’. From there, it’s just a short jump to the ebb and flow of Jacob’s surreal guitar-work. He sings about sneaking food into his bed late at night; drawing his own connection to the human need for products to ‘feel less empty’.
Night on Earth - A tale of choosing somebody to share the last night before the end of the world (as we know it). I wanna spend it with you. A moody & broody slow-burner that builds into romantic and existential angst.
find out more;
By heading to Jacob’s website at http://jerkcurb.com