Geneva Jacuzzi – ‘Triple Fire’ album review: A magnetic vision of a Gothic enchantress
THE SKINNY: In Goth: A History by Lol Tolhurst, the label is ascribed to an alternative lifestyle that celebrates the beauty of the macabre through music and art. Whenever you go looking for communities and conversations that centre on Geneva Jacuzzi, the word isn’t that hard to find. Aside from previously covering typical Goth bands like The Cure, Jacuzzi is considered a Gothic artist due to her unique creative identity, which blends 1980s synth-pop with avant-garde experimentalism, creating a sound and aesthetic that resonates with the tradition.
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of going into Triple Fire is the fact that, from the moment the needle drops, the album feels more extensive than the restrictions implied by the Goth label. As you go, it becomes clearer that this is the case not only because her team referred to it as “the record that’s going to save mankind” during its creation, but because the entire experience presents a striking contradiction. It’s an experience that captivates you so thoroughly that walking away from it feels impossible, yet its not amazingly welcoming either.
Musicians rarely get this space right, but maybe that’s because it has yet to be truly revolutionised. It’s easy to listen to this particular album and draw comparisons to those synthetic ’80s atmospheres or spotlight Jacuzzi’s theatricality as something inherently experimentalist or, again, ‘gothic’, but the more you get to know it and it gets to know you, the more you feel inclined to relinquish control and simply let it be.
Triple Fire might seem unsettling at first, but that’s the gateway to entering its charming realm, its blood-soaked bed sheets a promise of the viscera of experience when you choose to enter an arena filled with lawlessness. Triple Fire celebrates the messiness of art and life, and the beauty that comes with resigning to the instability of uncertainty. Triple Fire is satirical and off-kilter, a deliciously darkwave descent into what happens when pyrotechnics meet genuine artistry.
For fans of: Tim Burton’s stop motion films, The Cure’s Pornography, and the music video for ‘Gallowdance’ by Lebanon Hanover.
A concluding comment from Eric Draven: “Play ‘Rock And A Hard Place’ at my funeral. Oh wait…”
Triple Fire track by track:
Release date: August 23rd | Producer: Geneva Jacuzzi, Roderick Edens, Andrew Briggs and Josh da Costa | Label: Dais Records
‘Laps of Luxury’: Wasting no time proving its energetic power, ‘Laps of Luxury’ is the midnight melody, the walk in the night, the chase of your own shadow as you simultaneously enjoy how mysterious it looks gliding along the sidewalk. [3/5]
‘Art Is Dangerous’: One of Jacuzzi’s more experimental efforts, ‘Art Is Dangerous’ depicts an artist unafraid to hold back, a musician whose true form, as Peter Murphy once said, “Throws about, takes you in, and spits you out.” [3/5]
‘Speed Of Light’: Something about Jacuzzi’s creative identity does not seem too distant from the early pop-retro movement of the 2000s. However, while this undeniably underscores tracks like ‘Speed Of Light’, the melodic playfulness in Jacuzzi’s vocal delivery shows that, while many nostalgic acts influence her approach, her eyes are very much on the future. [3/5]
‘Nu2U’: The swaggering, strut-like atmosphere generated by the track’s rhythms alongside Jacuzzi’s muted, sultry vocals ignites an electric network of sounds that, as Jacuzzi explains, eventually deconstructs and “turns into a party, and then ends sweet and soft. Like a horror film, watched in reverse.” [3/5]
‘Dry’: This track is the most distinctive on the album as far as retro-futuristic sounds go, as Jacuzzi plays with synth wave electronic in a way that exists nowhere and everywhere. [3/5]
‘Scene Ballerine’: One of the standout tracks in a broader sense, ‘Scene Ballerine’ combines all of Jacuzzi’s past influences with her own distinctive artistry. With an endearing pop melody and subtle yet captivating arrangements, the track also offers a promising glimpse into the exciting future that lies ahead for Jacuzzi. 4/5]
‘Take It Or Leave It’: The 1980s dark wave approach features heavily on ‘Take It Or Leave It’, with Jacuzzi’s vocals taking on the era’s signature emotionally-charged confrontation, creating a track that demands attention. [4/5]
‘Keep It Secret’: Dark, visceral shades permeate ‘Keep It Secret’ as Jacuzzi plays with imagery created on sound alone, its swirling psychedelic charm working its magic for a glorious four minutes. [3.5/5]
‘Rock And A Hard Place’: The enjoyment of Triple Fire manifests in its ability to startle, surprise, and delight. ‘Rock And A Hard Place’ feels like the album’s torchbearer, its commanding beat and ascending notes creating a tapestry of dark and light contradictions. [3.5/5]
‘Bow Tie Eater’: Anywhere Jacuzzi goes, the rulebook ceases to exist. ‘Bow Tie Eater’ again proves her experimentalist adeptness and ability to excel in spaces that combine the unsettling with the predictable. [3/5]
‘Heart Full Of Poison’: The bouncy, lighthearted atmosphere of ‘Heart Full Of Poison’ and its glittering disco-ball aesthetics depict Jacuzzi’s seemingly endless layers, her dynamism captured as ever in her ability to charm her way through the darkness. [4/5]
‘Yo-Yo Boy’: Album closers are more often than not understated, and not just because today’s digital-first streaming landscape has lessened the value of tracklist chronology. However, ‘Yo-Yo Boy’ shows that Jacuzzi always gives it her all, whether it’s at the beginning, middle, or glitzy end. [4/5]
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