Shining’s set tonight
is generally recognisable from In the Kingdom Of
Kitsch You Will Be A Monster, their endearingly-titled
debut for Norwegian new music label Rune Grammofon.
Shining was a longstanding parallel project for Jorgen
Munkeby and Morten Qvenild who recently left Jaga Jazzist
to devote their energies to it fulltime. Their role
as support act tonight indicates clearly that the two
bands remain on amicable terms. Their music is a vigorously
played collage of genres with styles alternately colliding
or melding with each other. One moment they’re
playing operatic rock replete with howling wolverines
– at least that’s the impression –
next it is turn-on-a-dime prog-jazz. If the preponderance
of hyphens in that previous sentence is noteworthy,
it is also entirely appropriate in mirroring the additive
nature of Shining’s music. At the same time if
you’ve ever bent a plastic ruler or spoon up to
and beyond breaking point - and in the process keenly
felt its tensile strength - then you’ll appreciate
what Shining do to the genres they explore. The group
are powered along by Torstein Lofthus, who plays his
drums like dray horses on an amphetamine-fuelled rampage.
The ragged nature of the group’s live set proves
welcome after the slightly too pristine studio recording
of Monster. The only doubt about the experience
is something that isn’t really their fault. Norway
has birthed so much inventive, innovative music in recent
years that it is possible to experience a sense of hybrid
fatigue. As a result Shining might have to work harder
than otherwise to overcome the feeling of cultural exhaustion
their energetic fusion may engender in some of its potential
audience.
After a short break Jaga Jazzist take the stage (at
time of writing there’s some debate whether the
group are now simply called Jaga or not – in interview
the group’s primary composer, Lars Horntveth,
declares confidently they’re retaining the Jazzist
part of their name). After a number of one-off gigs
since their initial visit to the Spitz in 2002, this
is the first time the 10-piece have undertaken a full
UK tour and they kick it off with gusto. The group present
a fascinating conundrum in their exploration of jazz/not
jazz, rock/not rock, dance/not dance and so on. Their
compositions are brimful of hummable, difficult to forget
melodies. The more robust of these are rousingly anthemic,
particularly when performed live. An early example is
their second track tonight, Stardust Hotel,
in which the music overflows with such genuine warmth
and affection that it is surprising the audience don’t
dig out their lighters and raise them aloft. On For
All You Happy People, they’re confident enough
to play ambient passages and gently layer elements until
they achieve an ears-pinned-back climax. As with Shining,
drummer Martin Horntveth is a human dynamo powering
the group forward, his rhythms are challenging, densely
packed affairs that are surprisingly complex and challenging
to dance to. He takes on the role of announcer with
enthusiasm, addressing the audience between songs with
sweat running in rivulets down his face. Martin’s
brother Lars turns and smiles sincerely at various members
of the group – it is an endearing sight that underlines
the sense of familial support hinted at by the tight
performance of the ensemble. Even more appealing is
a brief passage in which the whole group lay down their
instruments and sing a cappella with outspoken sincerity.
Jaga Jazzist play three – or was it four? –
encores. Each one greeted rapturously by the audience.
It is possible to sense an innate tension at various
points through the evening between the group’s
tightly orchestrated compositions and the impressive
enthusiasm with which they play. Jaga Jazzist’s
performance appears to tremble on the verge of cathartic
dissolution, but it never quite tips over into chaos.
Added to the unusual nature and format of their music,
this pivotal strain between organisation and chaos may
just be their defining attribute.
Colin Buttimer |
