Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Jacuzzi, Jacuzzi Records 2020.
Jacuzzi is a Melbourne based synth rock band and Animator is the first album of theirs that I’ve heard.
The band formed in 2016 and were originally comprised of brothers Anthony Morse (synths, keyboards, vocals) and Christopher Morse (drums, percussion).
They released their first self-titled EP in 2017 and in 2018 they added their friend and multi-instrumentalist Ash Briody (bass, guitar, other instruments) to the band.
In 2019 they released the first two singles for the new album,Soft Dream and Preserving Age, and in August this year Animator was released.
Animator one of the most impressive albums I’ve listened to this year.
The band sit firmly within the alternative rock genre and they display impressive musicality and creativity.
While synths are the dominant instrument the band is not inhabiting the electronica spectrum.
The synths serve the songs by creating atmosphere and are not used as an outcome in their own right.
Their endless possibilities are tools working for the composition and not the other way around.
Animator consists of eight tracks and every one of them is a gem.
Soft Dream and Preserving Age are a fantastic songs, they build and hold tension beautifully with an insistent bass line underpinning everything and propelling the songs inexorably forward.
In many ways what Jacuzzi is doing is not dissimilar to the recent work of Steve Kilbey and Sean Sennett whose singles and album I favourably review earlier this year.
They are producing intelligent alternative rock that is atmospheric and involving for the listener.
Commerciality, pop hooks, formulaic melody and cliched lyrics are nowhere to be seen.
Instead you get a highly creative group of musicians producing enthralling music.
Give this album a listen, I’m sure you’ll be impressed.
