Labels: Smalltown Supersound
Review by: Chris Bress
Wow!
This is beautiful, and the most accomplished thing they’ve done since their incredible “Day” single. Jaga Jazzist seem to have dropped the Jazzist and have turned into one of the best dreamy pop outfits I’ve heard in ages. The opener, “All I know is tonight” is the hidden link between Tortoise, Sigur Ros and the Jaga Jazzist of old. As soon as the main horn riff came in I was sold. Gone are the electronic beats, it’s all real drumming now and it rocks out in a way only King Crimson can.
“Swedenborgskw Rom” is like the last Sigur Ros album only possibly ten million times better. The melodies are up front but it still made me think of My Bloody Valentine, and the otherworldly vocal patterns sound like if the Beach Boys were from Iceland and were mates with Bjork. It’s in the same realm as the hidden track on the excellent Mare cd, It has the same warm feeling of Alice Coltranes “Journey in Satchidananda”, but it brings it up to date and adds the most beautiful choir I’ve ever heard. This track builds up and up like classic Godspeed You Black Emperor or Can until the jazz rock drumming is almost uncontrollable. The delicious melodies also brought the Man I Fell In Love With and Party Of Helicopters to mind; I can totally imagine members of those bands making such dreamy, heartfelt music.