Jerkcurb – ‘Night Fishing On A Calm Lake’ album review: A record that shows how minimalism can be expansive
It’s easy to overlook an album title as a bit of fun. Maybe it’s just a song title, a lyric or a relative signifier of an artistic vision that is much more profoundly portrayed through the music. While on this record it is derived from the former, ultimately it’s a mission statement. Because never in my life have I been Night Fishing On A Calm Lake, but after listening to this by Jerkcurb, I feel like I have.
The Skinny: So how does that feeling manifest? Well, most obviously through the ethereal, ambient and at times haunting atmosphere they’ve created on this record. Be it through synthesised chords or drawn-out vocal harmonies, there’s a dark blue hush that seems to wash over this entire record that thrusts you into a deep state of reflection.
It’s no surprise then, that this record from Jerkcurb was born out of grief. Grappling with the trauma of losing a parent, Jerkcurb, aka Jacob Read, straddled the ever-changing areas of light and shade that exist through this journey. Through the pensive soundscape in which he has created, he can outrightly bury himself in the sonic darkness, like the title track and ‘The Rocks’. And rather than feel heavy and all-encompassing, they feel necessary and completely cathartic.
Then tracks like ‘Hungry’ provide the ripples of light that would inevitably flicker on the stillness of a nighttime lake. The almost transcendental use of electronic instruments give the overall palette of the album some buoyancy, helping Read on the path of discovery he has set out through this record.
Naturally then, there is an intimacy to the record. A DIY feel where these idiosyncratic ideas are given space to explore. Take a track like ‘Mothematics’ for example. It very much sounds like Read’s internal dialogue, the myriad voices that exist within him fighting for air before settling on harmony at the very end and realising there is deep beauty within the fractured.
‘Home On The Ranch’ feels like the most expansive song on the record. However, it still exercises a sense of intimate restraint and supports this idea that intimacy doesn’t have to mean one instrument, and expansion has to mean sheer volume and power. Somewhere in between, with the help of a well crafted atmosphere, the expanse of his ideas can slowly unfold and wash over the listener.
The verdict: It’s a truly interesting take on how trauma can influence an album. The feelings and emotions are very raw, and there’s very little hiding place for any of Read’s performances on each song. But within that everything is considered, and the entire goal of the record always seems to be at the forefront of his mind.
Defining track: ‘Home On The Ranch’
Release date: November 28th, 2025 | Producer: Jacob Read | Label: Handsome Dad Records
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