Jaga Jazzist Animal Chin CD

Gold Standard Laboratories is extremely proud to present the debut U.S. release from Oslo, Norway's critically acclaimed 10-piece group Jaga Jazzist. The Band's sound is a minefield of contrasting textures and styles. The comparisons that come up often include Miles Davis, Squarepusher, Tortoise, Talk Talk and Kid 606. The CD is a 30-minute seven-track collection gathered from EPs plus a couple of unreleased remixes. 2003.

Personnel: Lars Horntveth (guitar, acoustic guitar, flute, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, keyboards); Mathias Eick (trumpet, keyboards, upright bass); Lars Wabo (trombone); Andreas Mjos (keyboards, vibraphone, marimba, drums, percussion); Martin Horntveth (keyboards, drums, drum machine, percussion); Even Ormestad (keyboards).
Audio Mixers: Andreas Mjos; Martin Horntveth; Lars Horntveth.
Audio Remixers: Kim Hiorthoy; Martin Horntveth.
Recording information: Duper Studio, Bergen, Norway; Rotoscope Studios; Waterfall Studios, Oslo, Norway.
Photographer: Colin Eick.
Arrangers: Jaga Jazzist; Martin Horntveth; Lars Horntveth.
On this absolutely intoxicating album, Animal Chin, Norway's Jaga Jazzist brilliantly combine everything from Stereolab to Mego recording artists like Fennesz to Autechre and Aphex Twin. The title track brilliantly alternates between laid-back jazz and tweaked Squarepusher drum'n'bass -- that is, until it spirals into a retro chic, vibes-and-synthesizer, bachelor-pad groove. "Low Battery" has an eerie slow-motion shimmer that's complimented by up-front beats and a film noir moodiness, but it's immediately followed by "Toxic Dart," a buzzing, simmering, out-of-control laptop jam that's crisp, clean, and utopian. Herein lies Jaga Jazzist's greatest strength -- the ability to hopscotch between startlingly hip and experimental genres while making it all sound so perfectly coherent and resonant. ~ Charles Spano