‘The Sun Under The Water’ is the debut album released by Jackalico, the music project spearheaded by Spencer Colucy. Jackalico is an artist highly regarded for their ability to blend multiple genres to create unique soundscapes. Their debut album, ‘The Sun Under The Water’ is no exception to the same. The album consists of 10 songs, each song exploring a different mix of genres and sounds. This album is a jackpot for music lovers who love to experiment.
The album opens with the song ‘The Sun Under the Water’ and you get hooked instantly. The running beats, fading synth in the background and the textured vocals put the listener in such a vibe. A solo in the middle of the song steals the show and is a highlight of the track. ‘Unknown Vibe’ is a song that caught me off-guard. The playful keys and the upbeat tempo of the song keep you vibing throughout the song. Elements of indie rock are mixed with electronic music and the result is a unique blend of sounds that cannot fail to shock and awe. One can even hear the beats of an eastern percussion instrument, a tabla perhaps and the artist has managed to rock the song.
Songs like ‘Acid Waves’, ‘330AM’ and ‘Sextiles & Squares’ have more of a pop flavour, mixed with curious elements. Electronic music influence is evident as the steady beats carry the songs with the occasional release. ‘Sextiles & Squares’ is a track that makes you groove all the way. The brilliant keys and runs in the background transport the listener. The song ‘Close the Door’ bridges the gap between neo-soul and electronic pop. The subtle and soft melody of the music is pumped up by the ecstatic beats which takes the listener on a trip. However, there were times when the track felt a little crowded with a lot going on. The artist has crammed up information that could sound appealing to some, but overwhelming to others. ‘This Place Forgotten By Time’ and ‘Everyone Just Wants to Chill in the Room On Fire’ take it down a notch and put the listener in a mood. The slow yet captivating tracks slow you down and tell a story. The synth pads in the background of ‘This Place Forgotten By Time’ create a magical soundscape for the mesmerising vocal lines. The acoustic guitar lines in the song ‘Everyone Just Wants to Chill in the Room On Fire’ elevate the music and bring in such wholesome feels. The song goes on to explode with killer drum beats and running baselines, taking the song to a different dimension.
‘Cardinal Parallax’ is a song that is out of this world with its crazy rhythm and subtle folk flavour blended with an electronic soundscape. This is a song that is beyond description and needs to be experienced. Every twist and turn of the song will delight the listener and provide a truly unique experience. The song combines several elements to create the soundscape. At times, the numerous elements felt distracting and took the focus off the melody. Then again, it depends on how the song connects to its audience and the artistic freedom of the artists. Jackalico has definitely exploited and explored his artistic freedom to create this unique piece. The last song of the album, ‘Cyanide Waterslide’ takes the listener through an experience that incorporates elements of alt-rock and experimental tunes to paint an abstract picture. The song ends with the music slowly drowning in water, where you can hear the gurgling of the soundscape going under. This album is full of surprises that are bound to leave any music lover gasping in wonder.
You can listen to the album ‘The Sun Under The Water’ by Jackalico here –
