The Jacques have never been one to follow a straight line, and with “Dead Man’s Garden,” they veer further into their own wonderfully weird lane. As the band establishes a foundation for their second LP, “Make Repetition!” to be released by July 11, this new single barrels forward like a dust storm inside a cathedral, gritty, ghostly, and gloriously alive.
“Dead Man’s Garden” strikes like a sudden burst of spring flowers in a haunted desert. It’s garage rock with sand under its fingernails and a smoky, desert-noir soul. Swerving organ lines snake through the mix, bringing a spectral quality to the frenzied rhythm section, and the guitars seem to swing with a wild energy that’s both vintage and excitingly new. It’s raw, big, and unapologetically weird in the best sense.
Underneath the whirling aural power is something much more fragile and existential. “Dead Man’s Garden” grapples with the creepiness of beauty and how something as innocent as spring in bloom can be a harsh reminder that nothing, not even the most vivid parts of life, is permanent. That duality, the joy and the doom, give the song a powerful emotional pull. It’s a song to dance to but also dissociate while being pleased that you can dance.
What’s most thrilling is how The Jacques conjures heaviness that feels, ironically, uplifting. They don’t dwell in the dark. There’s catharsis in the chaos, a weird comfort in the dissonance. In conjunction with the band’s unshakeable swagger, that gothiness makes “Dead Man’s Garden” a statement piece.
With “Dead Man’s Garden,” The Jacques are flinging the gates wide. If “Make Repetition!” is anything like this single, it will be one hell of a ride. This is not missing for devotees of distinct determination, lyrical depth, and songs that linger in your mind for a long time.
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