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 Jaga
Jazzist
Ever
since the beginning Jaga Jazzist have searched and looked
ahead - beyond time and trends. Back in 1994 (at this
time some of the members were only 14 years old) they
released their first album "Jævla Jazzist Grete Stitz"
(now deleted and out of print). An album about trying
without fear of failing, but most importantly the first
tiny step towards something special.
With "Magazine" from 1998 (re-issued with bonus material
by Smalltown Supersound in 2004), the band came even
closer to the formula that today is the basis in the
Jaga Jazzist sound. But it was first with "A Livingroom
Hush" in 2001, that Jaga Jazzist fully blossomed with
an album that put Jaga Jazzist on the map and defined
their unique sound world. With this album the band got
an international record deal through Ninja Tune, something
which gave them the opportunity to tour extendedly.
For people outside of Norway this was the very sign
of the Jaga Jazzist.
With 9 members, you also get 9 different opinions, feelings
and taste. With a result that the band never stands
still. Instead of sucking on the successful formula
of "A Livingroom Hush", they wanted to take their sound
even further with the next album. To the extreme one
might say. The result was 2003`s "The Stix" album. This
was Jaga Jazzist`s take on electronic music, an album
characterized by its intricate drum patters and rolling
beats.
After heavily touring, the time was come for the next
chapter in the Jaga Jazzist history, "What We Must".
After months with writing new material, the band went
into studio in Spydeberg out in the Norwegian woods,
to record the demo now known as the Spydeberg Session.
This demo, recorded in one take in one day, showed another
a new side of Jaga Jazzist. A sound that was closer
to their live sound than ever before. For us close to
the core of the band heard the band members talk about
this as their rock album. But rock in a Jaga Jazzist
way that is. And this is the essential with Jaga Jazzist,
they have created their own signature sound, and each
new offering is variations of the signature sound. This
is what characterizes all great bands, and this is what
characterizes Jaga Jazzist. Listening to the Spydeberg
session it became evident that the band was influenced
by as different styles as British shoegazer guitar pop
from the early nineties to 70`s prog rock. An Illogical
combination on the paper that Jaga Jazzist made pure
logic.
After the Spydeberg session, the band went on a 14 shows
tour of Canada and USA where they tested their new material.
And directly from this tour they went with producer
Marcus Schmickler to Notwist`s studio in Weilheim, Germany,
and after that to Schmickler`s own studio in Cologne.
Here they recorded the basis of the album. After a couple
of months break, the band completed and mixed the album
in Propeller Music Division in Oslo, Norway, with producer
Kåre Christoffer Vestrheim and Mike Hartung.
Jaga Jazzist is a restless soul, going in many directions
at the same time, but always going forward. Fast. The
band always pushes the boundaries, both personal and
musical. That is why they are impossible to categorize.
And that is why they are special. Jaga Jazzist is something
natural and beautiful. A necessity. For both them and
us.
They are just Jaga Jazzist. And this is what they must.
"Ground floor for musical innovation,
lunacy and special-offer ideas..." (NME)
"… a feast of infectious beats and
exciting arrangements delicately resolved with nuance
to produce a variety of atmospheric pleasures" (THE
WIRE)
Links
http://www.jagajazzist.com/
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