JAGA JAZZIST: One-Armed Bandit (Ninja Tune)

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Posted on Jan 13th 2010 01:01 am

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JAGA JAZZIST
One-Armed Bandit
ZEN152
Ninja Tune 2010
10 Tracks. 53mins32secs

Amazon UK: CD | DLD Amazon US: CD | DLD

It’s been over five years since Jaga Jazzist were last heard of. Although the band has existed in one form or another for over fifteen years, formed by then teenage brothers Lars and Martin Horntveth, with sister Line, and a handful of friend, it is not until they signed to Smalltown Supersound in 2001, and were later licensed to Ninja Tune for Europe, that the band gained widespread recognition outside of their native Norway, with albums such as A Livingroom Hush (2001) and The Stix (2002) causing more than a stir. Their last album to date, What We Must, saw the band, renamed Jaga for the occasion, adopt a harsher, grittier stance and distil their usual blend of progressive power jazz with a heavy does of rock.

More subtle and elegant than its predecessor, One-Armed Bandit is not so much a return to the sound of The Stix as an evolution of whatever genres the band has been amassing over the years. Still firmly driven by a powerful rhythmic section, with at its heart Martin’s flamboyant drumming, and rich orchestrations, this album is once again a vibrant and eclectic collection which obstinately refuses to settle in one particular place, instead erupting in glittering melodies (One-Armed Bandit, Toccata, Prognissekongen), seventies overtones (220 Vv / Spektral), angular rhythms (Bananfleur Overalt), ethnic flavours (Music! Dance! Drama!) or brash progressive stabs (Touch Of Evil).

Lars Horntveth began writing the album in early 2008, before the band regrouped and started rehearsing and recording with long term collaborator and producer Jørgen Træen, who had to retire half way through the sessions due to ill health. The mixing of the album was consequently completed in Chicago by Tortoise’s John McEntire. Inspired by Fela Kuti, Frank Zappa and Wagner, according to Lars, One-Armed Bandit is above all a vivid expression of the band’s core sound and of its cohesion as an ensemble. Influences undoubtedly inform some elements of the record, but they are incorporated within the band’s overall sound so as to become integrant part of it. Overall, One-Armed Bandit is much more fluid and open than its predecessor, and while the harsher sound the band developed for What We Must can still occasionally be heard, it is here much more tamed and softened, and integrated into the overall musical structure.

Prior to taking a rather long break, Jaga Jazzist were starting to show some signs of fatigue, resulting in a slight loss of focus. Refreshed and reinvigorated, the ensemble is once again bursting with ideas. One-Armed Bandit might not quite have the panache of The Stix, but it is a refreshing offering from a band in its prime.

4.3/5

Jaga Jazzist | Ninja Tune
Amazon UK: CD | DLD Amazon US: CD | DLD

It’s been over five years since Jaga Jazzist were last heard of. Although the band has existed in one form or another for over fifteen years, formed by then teenage brothers Lars and Martin Horntveth, with sister Line, and a handful of friend, it is not until they signed to Smalltown Supersound in 2001, and were later licensed to Ninja Tune for Europe, that the band gained widespread recognition outside of their native Norway, with albums such as A Livingroom Hush (2001) and The Stix (2002) causing more than a stir. Their last album to date, What We Must, saw the band, renamed Jaga for the occasion, adopt a harsher, grittier stance and distil their usual blend of progressive power jazz with a heavy does of rock.

More subtle and elegant than its predecessor, One-Armed Bandit is not so much a return to the sound of The Stix as an evolution of whatever genres the band has been amassing over the years. Still firmly driven by a powerful rhythmic section, with at its heart Martin’s flamboyant drumming, and rich orchestrations, this album is once again a vibrant and eclectic collection which obstinately refuses to settle in one particular place, instead erupting in glittering melodies (One-Armed Bandit, Toccata, Prognissekongen), seventies overtones (220 Vv / Spektral), angular rhythms (Bananfleur Overalt), ethnic flavours (Music! Dance! Drama!) or brash progressive stabs (Touch Of Evil).

Lars Horntveth began writing the album in early 2008, before the band regrouped and started rehearsing and recording with long term collaborator and producer Jørgen Træen, who had to retire half way through the sessions due to ill health. The mixing of the album was consequently completed in Chicago by Tortoise’s John McEntire. Inspired by Fela Kuti, Frank Zappa and Wagner, according to Lars, One-Armed Bandit is above all a vivid expression of the band’s core sound and of its cohesion as an ensemble. Influences undoubtedly inform some elements of the record, but they are incorporated within the band’s overall sound so as to become integrant part of it. Overall, One-Armed Bandit is much more fluid and open than its predecessor, and while the harsher sound the band developed for What We Must can still occasionally be heard, it is here much more tamed and softened, and integrated into the overall musical structure.

Prior to taking a rather long break, Jaga Jazzist were starting to show some signs of fatigue, resulting in a slight loss of focus. Refreshed and reinvigorated, the ensemble is once again bursting with ideas. One-Armed Bandit might not quite have the panache of The Stix, but it is a refreshing offering from a band in its prime.

4.4/5

Filed in Albums | Tags: ,
Comments (3)

3 Responses to “JAGA JAZZIST: One-Armed Bandit (Ninja Tune)”

  1. […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ninja Tune, themilkfactory. themilkfactory said: themilkfactory JAGA JAZZIST: One-Armed Bandit (Ninja Tune): Back after a five year break, Norwegian nine-piece ban… http://bit.ly/4nrHho […]

  2. Ashon 01 Feb 2010 at 3:33 pm

    Looking forward to receiving my copy of this. Best review I’ve read of it, too.

  3. […] cLOUDDEAD’s seminal self-titled album (2001), The Bug’s London Zoo (2008) and Jaga Jazzist’s One-Armed Bandit, released earlier this year, making it a perfect companion to the music on […]