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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Extra Content Makes this the best version...., April 27, 2005
Jaga Jazzist (consisting of central linchpins, Multi-instrumentalist's "Lars & Martin Horntveth") have only a (small) handful of albums to their name, but although not fully able to break through to the mainstream with the canopy of 'Progressive Jazz, Nu-Breaks, Jazz-House & Electronica that they are largely known for. They remain a hugely likable act, that have amassed a small and devoted following for their leftfield interpretations of Jazz/Electronica.
From the ambitious creative jazz with electronic exploration of "A Livingroom Hush", through to the futuristic Modern Big Band Jazz/Electronica hybrid of "The Stix", Jaga Jazzist have seemingly always comfonded people expectations of what to expect, and the limitless possibilities that Jazz (and its various sub-genres) throws up to them. This their most recent release find the band changing tack and side-stepping expectations by creating an album that although elaborate and Dynamic in its deconstruction of jazz, also largely retains elements of European jazz, and creatively is still a highly individualistic one, this time around...its a fusion of subtly amplified rock with Jazz that makes up a large part of this album.
Followers of Jaga's previous albums may well baulk at the introduction of rock instrumentation and the decided 'Progressive Rock' sensibilities that run throughout this album, in fact the first track "All I Know is Tonight", arguments insistent guitars, muted horns, textured keyboard sounds and the most slight of Jazz percussion underpinning the whole thing. It's sounds as if a more jazz-minded "Pink Floyd" had decided to scale back on the excess, make the track wholly instrumental and fuse the quicktime percussion of Jazz with the immediacy of Rock. What's so surprising about all of this is the fact that it is, just that....So Surprising!!, soundly virtually nothing like what the band have done before, it takes a mental readjust to comprehend what is being played here. Not that its inaccessible....it's very accessible, but also a departure from what you'll probably be expecting, yet stick with it, because repeated listens begin to unravel a subtle complexity & structure that although not the Jaga Jazzist we know, easily retains that non-conformist attitude to Jazz/Electronica that brought them to us, in the first place.
Although running at a length, just shy of 45 minutes, its certainly not a long album, to truly get lost in, but thankfully there are enough ideas and memorable arrangements to make-up for the relatively short running time, with more emphasis on desirable tracks, rather than a hours worth of mediocre content. Thoroughout the album, there are interesting diversions in approach, wether it is the pouring, reverb-drenched dream of flight coupled with the bright soaring melodies, and chiming acoustic guitars, keyboards, that make up tracks such as "Stardust Hotel". Or indeed on "For All You Happy People", which manages to completely impress by linking sections that almost contrast in structure, but yet are seamlessly linked between expertly utilising sections of bass clarinet and keyboards, with a sound that becomes a little more engaging with every listen, almost danceable rhythms, involving chiming acoustic guitars, and surprising almost this plethora of instruments, the tuba. With this all balanced out beautifully and although not delving deeper into jazz motifs, that earmarked the last two albums, still retains a hugely likable, yet original composition. Sure it's certainly not as freewheeling as their previous work, but shows an impressive ensemble willing to resist being pigeonholed by previous work, and the subtle innovations in electronic music previously, gently creep into this album..
With the leftfield improvisation of before, largely missing from this release, and the sound far more that, of a band working as a modern Big Jazz Band, there is much here that although may not immediately impress, the powerful set of rock dynamics, will be unfamiliar to all, that have heard Jaga's previous work, but the luscious sounds of rich guitar, bass & Horns & drums, with that keen ear on electronic percussion, with eventaually begin to take hold of you, it's not hard to eventually warm to (and hugely enjoy) the more FM Radio friendly sound, on this album. Those that are expecting (or indeed hoping) for an album that runs along similar lines to "The Stix" & "A Livingroom Hush", will probably be hugely disappointed, and should avoid this, as the more radio friendly / Rock inclusive sound may well repel purists. But this is also arguably their most melodic & accessible album. "The Stix" & "A Livingroom Hush" still remain arguably the more experimental, envelope pushing, creative jazz albums, that they have created, but this superb album still stands amongst such distinguished work, although it's charms really start to unfolded over several listens. It's a gorgeously likable instrumental album and take heed of the fact that it's unlike their previous work, and it's memorable arrangements will amply reward.
the accompanying second disk contains a second disk, that is almost half the length of the main disk, and it's a disk that is taken from the same 'Spydeberg Sessions', that spawned the first disk. What is contained here in alternate versions, Demos from the sessions and various rarities. which although don't replace the main disk in anyway, give a broader spectrum of the ideas and demos, that would go on to become the completed tracks. The idea is relatively similar to what goes on with certain classic Jazz albums (John Coltranes - A Love Supreme" for instance), where you get the complete sessions, in that the standalone disk makes up the main meat of the album, but for real fans, that extra / alternate tracks from the same session..(in this case the 'Bonus Disk'), are akin to the complete recordings. If you can stretch to the 2-Cd edition, then I strongly suggest you do, the cost isn't that much more that the single CD edition, and it interesting to hear the demo versions, and considering the the single disk edition is a fairly short album anyway, this bolsters the album into a far more substantial affair (and boosts the score rating up a notch).
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The symphonic jazz of What We Must. One of years best CD's, July 4, 2005
'What We Must' basically sounds like what Kevin Shields would dream-up if he was influenced by jazz and prog-rock. A 10 piece ensemble from Norway, Jaga Jazzist's fourth album strays from the jazz-electronica of their first three, creating for a cacophony of celestial sounds, orchestral and ambient, cinematic and lush. 'What We Must' is almost unclassifiable because it draws from so many influences, a symphonic soundtrack where jazz-meets-progressive rock-meets-New Age-meets-psychadelia. An ambitious album that's a melting-pot of musical styles; swirly shoegazers (as strange as it may seem) like The Pale Saints/Slowdive/MBV, the atmospheric New Age sounds of Terry Riley and Mike Oldfield, 70's prog-rockers Soft Machine, the jazz-fusion of Spyro Gyra, and a dash of Flaming Lips neo-psychadelia. Occasionally a recording will come along that's so beautiful, spiritual, and profoundly powerful, 'What We Must' gets my vote as one of the strongest, if not one of the best albums of 2005.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Sonic Expansion, September 5, 2009
Don't read this if you don't like electronic music or jazz.
I'm not going song-by-song because I like the band and would rather comment on their style.
Breathy blown instruments, electronica with jazz.These Norwegians must have lots of time to practice. They're good. The sound is pleasing. It is not as steady as ambiant but is intricate without being condescending. Developement of melody is usually straightforward, but some twists. The sub-melodies and harmonies just work great given where they try to go. Percussion is everything from conventional and electronic drums to editing a static white noise track. All in all, an adventure into a expansive sonic experience. I have had listened to this a good while and still like it. Buy.
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