As with many records released in the last year or so, Giant Head Collective’s ‘Pandora’s Box’ came out of a burning need to create something, to bring to life artistic expression during a period when isolation and loneliness were rife. The pandemic brought out remote collaboration and the Scottish based outfit took to this opportunity to work alongside artist and writers across the states, mainland Europe, and Scandinavia to fill out different pieces in their ambitious fifteen track maze of a record. The result is a diverse yet cohesive collection of garage rock and blues that draws from the forefathers of the genre while still bringing out a distinctively unique and modern spin.
The album kicks into drive with ‘Without Me’, a glistening piece of alternative rock that’s loaded with emotion and accentuation throughout its four and a half minute runtime. The song harkens back to the British rock of the late 90s and early 00s, defiantly optimistic and warm with a chorus that has you singing along gleefully. The falsetto, the shining arrangement, and the infectious lyricism all combine for the perfect introduction. But the style couldn’t be more different from ‘Sin (Synth Bass)’, a delectable piece of rhythm and blues that’s loaded with the instrumental arrangement that its name holds. A much more groovy, funky, and attitude driven piece, it just goes to highlight the diversity that Giant Head Collective bring out.
Pandora’s Box is a testament not only to a new form of musical collaboration, but also an entirely new take on traditional album conception. The sheer shift in styles throughout the album, while still maintaining a tone and emotion throughout shows that rock is indeed far from dead. It’s remarkably colourful and warm rather than glum and dreary. An all around delight.