A melodic, nostalgic creativity stirs across EIGHT COURSE TASTING MENU, the new album from tripperjones.AI. True to its name, the release plays like a multi-course feast — each track offering a unique, vivid flavor and spanning from throwback psychedelia to ’90s rock grit and more surreal, cinematic detours. Archival recordings and modern textures collide with enjoyable ingenuity, while the project’s AI-driven visuals and offbeat storytelling further bolster the successful output.
The album consumes with dynamic allure from the get-go. “Intro” eases listeners in with a vocal salutation — “welcome to the eight course tasting menu.” A minimalist, soulful character envelops throughout, as wordless backing vocals exude a bass-y charm, reminiscent of Sampha. “Backseat” follows it up with another aesthetical world entirely, launching into thrashing percussion, heavy bass pulses, and ferocious vocal intensity. Its invigorating rock-forward style thoroughly succeeds, invoking a bustling stadium setting with ample hands in the air. Then comes “Echoes in the Dark Night,” also compelling with a rock-minded sound — though with a funky, debonair nostalgia. “How could it go like this? How could it be this way?” the vocals wonder, seamlessly adjusting between rhythm-fronted suaveness and soaring guitar smokiness.
A fervent bluesy rock howl shines on “A Strong Bull With a Horse,” where pulsing swells of guitars venture into an escalating vocal feeling, imploring “you know you must go in there” with foreboding beckoning. Shades of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard show in its psych-ready, fuzzy elements, and the track in general enthralls in its late-night rock setting — ideal for nocturnal traversals with only your vehicle’s guiding spotlights ahead on the road. A smoother, emotive yearning stirs on the subsequent “Crystals in the Sand,” where the vocals implore to “take my hand” amidst spacious dream-rock intrigue and guitar-laden glistening; it’s another standout on the album, immersing with eclectic stylishness and tonal appeal.
The concluding tracks continue with fantastic productions and riveting showmanship. “JAILBAIT” is especially cinematic in its heady vocal questioning and spacey psych-rock splendor, sending chills with its saxophone infusion and ’70s throwback feeling, akin to Jefferson Starship. “Monk Akka + The Energy” ensues with a warming rock disposition, pressing the time machine to a more ’90s alt-rock vibrancy. “Mignardise” concludes the album with a free-flowing art-rock experimentation, maneuvering from eerie vocal samples to a stately piano-touched ending; it’s a fitting conclusion to an album that consistently enamors with delectably unpredictable, yet consistently melodic, charm.
