Listening to the Jennifer Gentle album, The Midnight Room is kind of like going to an evil carnival but still having a blast. Each song on the album is a fun ride of its own. Each gets scarier, darker and more exciting. This four piece Italian underground group is sure to grab a few more listeners with their fifth release off of Sub-Pop.
From beginning to finish this album will not disappoint your need for different sounding music. You will hear influences like the psychedelics of Syd Barrett, the evil industrial sounds of Tom Waits, the tripped-out blues of Captain Beefheart, and the brilliant goofiness of Gong. This is not your ordinary sounding album. The band lists Federico Fellini as an influence and you can hear that in the dreamy bizarre world that the album creates.
One thing that is very striking about The Midnight Room is the different types of instruments you will hear. Sounds of accordions, bells, whistles, harpsichords, and kazoos are strewn through the album making it sonically amazing. Very well recorded and all the songs seem to come alive. The album has a variety of different sounds on it from goofy fun songs like “Electric Princess” and “Mercury Blood” to music that may scare you like “Granny’s House” and to the broken weirded-out blues of “It’s In Her Eyes”. The vocals can be creepy at points and harmonious at others. Each song has a unique tone and feel that leaves you guessing what you may hear next.
This is an album for the person who is looking for a different sound in today’s music. Now you may be turned off by the sound of the album at first but this strange trip with evil clowns, lions, and heart attack rides will make you want to go for one more spin.
