If the cover doesnt freak you out, then the sinister sounds of Mini Mansion‘s debut album, which is a collaboration between the bassist from Queens of the Stone Age, Michael Shuman and his friends, Tyler Parkford and Zach Dawes, surely will.

The album almost has a surrealist sound to it, like the soundtrack to a David Lynch film. With track names like “Kiddie Hypnogogia” and “Magik Marker,” they actually sound like titles of David Lynch. This even seems to be the intention because, according to Shuman, “There are a lot of thematic elements from film and television that come into play on the record, especially on the instrumental passages.”

Mini Mansion’s debut starts off with a tune called “Vignette #1,” a catchy yet serious beat that is reminiscent of the musical version of Clue. This is a part of three different vignettes that elegantly connects the album together by linking the thematic elements. The trio are the stand outs of the album, which gives Mini Mansion’s a unique sound from any other band out there.

Most of the songs sound poppy like The Beatles: light vocals, light instruments, and then organs make an appearance, almost like a happy psychedelic trip that goes for an ominous turn. “Magik Marker” lies in this category with some of the trippiest lyrics I’ve ever heard. Most of which are hard to understand, but the words “Evel Kneivel” and “Don’t tell your mother” are repeated over and over again.

This is a great album, ending on a completely dark note with a dark melody, and haunting vocals on the track “Thriller Escapade.” The listener is left feeling slightly disturbed and satisfied, but happy because they just listened to a very refreshing piece of art.

Conclusion: Just like the cover of the album, the album takes normally soft and cuddly sounds, and makes them unsettling.