"Return to the sphinx through the waves of illusion
Follow the wanderer crossing the gate
Shades are calling for a dance of diffusion
Travel the world that the watcher creates”
This is the text on the inner sleeve of Jacco Gardner's third album Somnium. It is reminiscent of a quote from Nietzsche: "There are various eyes. Even the Sphinx has eyes: and as a result there are various truths, and as a result there is no truth."
A statement shrouded in mystery and duality, evoking a sense of change and discovery. It nicely sums up what Jacco has been immersing himself in for the past few years. Nestled in Lisbon with a young love in his life, he was inspired by literature, film, philosophy and a new city to wander around in.
“Moving to Lisbon plays a big part in this album. There’s something mystical about the city,” he says. “Especially in the older neighborhoods, because of the hills that everything is built on. When you walk through the streets, it feels like you’re still in nature.”
The resulting album is not so much representative of the new living environment, at least not in the most obvious way. Rather a mirage of thoughts and dreams that manifested themselves while he walked the streets. He fantasized how the worlds and characters from the books he read at the time could be transformed into music. Jacco Gardner has become known for his intoxicating psychedelic pop, characterized by his baroque voice. On Somnium, however, there is not a note of singing to be found; instead, Jacco dives fully into the instrumental synth arrangements and creates compelling sci-fi atmospheric elements.
That’s not a coincidence: Somnium is a nod to the book of the same name, written in 1608 by Johannes Kepler; the story is considered by many to be the first science fiction book in history. “I found the book fascinating because Kepler, so to speak, moves into a fictional world, which he describes in the most astonishing detail – just like his own journey. Many of the imaginary feelings he describes correspond to what actually happens when you go on a space journey. And that didn’t happen until four hundred years later. You could call it a vision from the future, and I find that aspect very mysterious and powerful.”
Jacco wanted to recreate this form of moving the human mind with sound as building material. That is why his voice is not present on this spiritual journey of discovery this time. “I did that very consciously, because it made it more difficult for me to reach the core idea. I think that this makes the listening experience more interesting; deeper, more intimate. I did not feel obliged to put my face in the picture while the listener sinks away in his or her world of thoughts. Somnium is a visionary experience, it is more than just a trip. The album is an attempt to make contact with a deeper – hidden – reality.”
If the concepts behind this record seem supernatural and contrived, Jacco has actually created a record that evokes exactly the same awe. Analogue synths hum and glide elegantly, bass lines dance with fervour, deep atmospheres build and form beautiful melodies that dissolve into the dark void of the cosmos. Jacco Gardner owes a debt to the old pioneers of such dreamy ambience and explorers of the universe: Bo Hansson, Vangelis, Cluster, Tangerine Dream, Eno and Oldfield (the record was also mastered by Simon Heyworth, who helped produce records by the latter three, including the illustrious Tubular Bells).
But Somnium is also a look ahead to the future, chasing what is to come and investigating the past. According to Jacco, both sides of that spectrum are equally important. “The past feels so alive to me, so mysterious, that I have to conclude that the present and the future are probably no different.”
Shades are calling for a dance of diffusion
Travel the world that the watcher creates”
This is the text on the inner sleeve of Jacco Gardner's third album Somnium. It is reminiscent of a quote from Nietzsche: "There are various eyes. Even the Sphinx has eyes: and as a result there are various truths, and as a result there is no truth."
A statement shrouded in mystery and duality, evoking a sense of change and discovery. It nicely sums up what Jacco has been immersing himself in for the past few years. Nestled in Lisbon with a young love in his life, he was inspired by literature, film, philosophy and a new city to wander around in.
“Moving to Lisbon plays a big part in this album. There’s something mystical about the city,” he says. “Especially in the older neighborhoods, because of the hills that everything is built on. When you walk through the streets, it feels like you’re still in nature.”
The resulting album is not so much representative of the new living environment, at least not in the most obvious way. Rather a mirage of thoughts and dreams that manifested themselves while he walked the streets. He fantasized how the worlds and characters from the books he read at the time could be transformed into music. Jacco Gardner has become known for his intoxicating psychedelic pop, characterized by his baroque voice. On Somnium, however, there is not a note of singing to be found; instead, Jacco dives fully into the instrumental synth arrangements and creates compelling sci-fi atmospheric elements.
That’s not a coincidence: Somnium is a nod to the book of the same name, written in 1608 by Johannes Kepler; the story is considered by many to be the first science fiction book in history. “I found the book fascinating because Kepler, so to speak, moves into a fictional world, which he describes in the most astonishing detail – just like his own journey. Many of the imaginary feelings he describes correspond to what actually happens when you go on a space journey. And that didn’t happen until four hundred years later. You could call it a vision from the future, and I find that aspect very mysterious and powerful.”
Jacco wanted to recreate this form of moving the human mind with sound as building material. That is why his voice is not present on this spiritual journey of discovery this time. “I did that very consciously, because it made it more difficult for me to reach the core idea. I think that this makes the listening experience more interesting; deeper, more intimate. I did not feel obliged to put my face in the picture while the listener sinks away in his or her world of thoughts. Somnium is a visionary experience, it is more than just a trip. The album is an attempt to make contact with a deeper – hidden – reality.”
If the concepts behind this record seem supernatural and contrived, Jacco has actually created a record that evokes exactly the same awe. Analogue synths hum and glide elegantly, bass lines dance with fervour, deep atmospheres build and form beautiful melodies that dissolve into the dark void of the cosmos. Jacco Gardner owes a debt to the old pioneers of such dreamy ambience and explorers of the universe: Bo Hansson, Vangelis, Cluster, Tangerine Dream, Eno and Oldfield (the record was also mastered by Simon Heyworth, who helped produce records by the latter three, including the illustrious Tubular Bells).
But Somnium is also a look ahead to the future, chasing what is to come and investigating the past. According to Jacco, both sides of that spectrum are equally important. “The past feels so alive to me, so mysterious, that I have to conclude that the present and the future are probably no different.”
Somnium represents many things: a journey of discovery inside, outside and between different realities, a compelling cosmic quest through the mind of the creator and your own mind. These twelve tracks expose the human mind to new dream worlds. Much remains open for inspiration, and every listener must find their own way through it. The ideal scenario is to put on Somnium during a hike, and let the music absorb you without interruption. “Somnium is in some way an ode to the album, a format on its deathbed in today's fast-paced society. It is often difficult to enjoy a moment without any interruption. There are still so many mysteries and wonders to discover on this record.”
Jacco Gardner's new album will be launched on November 23rd by three renowned indie labels in their respective territories, Excelsior Recordings in the Benelux, Polyvinyl in North America, while Full Time Hobby serves the rest of the world.