They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but I was particularly eager after seeing the cover art for Jazz Hands, a collection of mostly jazz covers by Wildergoose. I'm not going to pretend that I'm particularly familiar with the original versions or even know which one is an original, but I at least recognise the names 'Round Midnight and A Love Supreme, by Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane, respectively.
Anyway, I love geese, and I love the chaotic energy of this cover art, but I've gotta say I should have listened to them because to me it doesn't quite match the vibe of this record.
Or does it? What even is the vibe of this album? On the surface, and when Naïma started playing, I felt like I had a handle on what this album was. It's a lofi chill hop electric piano smooth jazz type thing, not unlike music I've heard before but nothing that I find particularly objectionable either. But then there are surprises in this track alone. A jarring switch up at the mid way point, and an almost space-aged euphoria in its elevation towards the end.
Sunshower was another surprise. Again, on the surface a very chilled and summery feeling chill hop track, but there was something about it. A feeling I started to get in my bones, a feeling that I couldn't source but it was there. Something deeply emotional sitting beneath the surface of the track. The AC is on in this room so I cannot verify for sure, but I think it even gave me goosebumps a bit. Fitting, I suppose.
There's another layer to all this, too. With Stolen Moments I really started to hit upon a sense of artifice that I hadn't noticed before. More organic sounds gave way to something I can only describe as overtly MIDI. It's a strange thing, being the exact age I am, this should sound pretty corny to me, but I think it's done with so much confidence, the composition and arrangements so strong, and the drums so punchy, that I can't help but groove along with it.
And the introduction of those sounds make the chopped up "guitar" of Mellow Mood hit a lot harder. Probably my favourite track, by the way - a city pop dream that can't seem to sit still. I certainly wouldn't call it mellow, and at around just past the half way point it really starts to go off the rails. There's so much fun in the choices of sounds, how gleefully they bend and boop, it's great!
If I was to guess which song here is the original, it would be A Timeless Green River. Mostly because, aside from A Love Supreme (more on that in a sec), it's the only one that's not an instrumental. The guitar's real this time, and incredibly subtle next to the electric piano and heavily processed vocals. There's a real vibe here. It's sad, the vibe, it's a sad vibe, and I love a sad vibe, and so I think this one is really strong.
The closing track is the aforementioned cover of A Love Supreme, and surprisingly minimal compared to the rest of the album, almost like a coda that just happens to also riff on Coltrane's classic. 45 seconds of ambience before those vocals come in, chanting the title over the iconic bassline, and it's eerie and beautiful, I love it.
So does the cover art suit the music? Well, the album sounds very blue to me rather than green and red, but there is a subtle chaos and energy to everything. The main thing that hits me about it, though, is how much is expressed through the tone and feeling of the music. Putting it into words almost feels futile, but it made me feel emotions that can only be described by the music itself, and I feel better off for having listened to it.