Jaga Jazzist's album 'Livingroom Hush' is for those who are interested in
new complicated sound forms coming from the North. It is a true challenge. Born
by passionate overdeveloped minds and cleverly designed to take the neophyte
ones to a new level. Not exactly hushed, as you might expect. It gathers both live instrumental acts with
advanced programming that makes it quite an experience for the listener.Jaga's music is absolutely organic. Very rhythmic, very original, very complex. It's excitingly jazzy and
experimental. Bass clarinets give an unforgettable shape and form of it all. The drums offer to you
a true feast. Coming a long way from Norway, Jaga Jazzist's experimental act is definitely one of the
boldest Ninja Tune recruits.Muscular, brainy and daring.Killer tracks: Animal Chin, Midget.
Personal Favourites: Airborne, Low Battery, Lithuania."
New jazz at its best...
nicjaytee | London | 06/16/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What is happening in Norway? Following on from Bugge Wesseltoft's "New Conceptions of Jazz" releases comes this even better CD that really does expand the horizons of where jazz is in 2002! From its stand-out opening number - "Animal Chin", with its driving "drum & bass" back-beats and wonderfully "frantic" but controlled multi-layered riffs - the whole album just rolls along through a series of superbly played, tightly structured and often highly innovative tracks. Fusing the rhythms & break sequences used by club DJ's, new wave electronica and the chord progressions of "traditional" modern jazz, "A Living Room Hush" is that rarest of things: an album that dares to push itself beyond accepted boundaries while remaining totally listenable to.Good enough to stand comparison to Weather Report's & The Mahavishnu Orchestra's similarly ground-breaking "cross-over" explorations in the 1970's, but devoid of their jarring excesses, Jaga Jazzist's first outing will challenge you and then insidiously etch itself into your memory banks to demand repeat listening. Having, justifiably, received "rave" reviews on its, initially restricted, local release this album now sits here waiting for you to discover it. If you really do want to know - and enjoy - where creative new jazz is going look no further!"
"A hunted Jazz Musician."
Little lulu | 09/15/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"One thing for sure; Jaga Jazzist's sound draws influences froms the whole. From Eric Satie, Soft Machine and Stereolab to citing My Bloody Valentine, Radiohead and Bjork as important influences. Jaga jazzist creates a no- boundary hypnotic music that is reminiscent of the ever blossoming 1960's Norwegian jazz scene.
"
New Wave Jazz
L. Jackson | ellenwood, georgia United States | 10/01/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a great cd.Each track with it's own style and rythm.The jagga jazzist remind me somewhat of stereolab with a little jazz added.Great chillout cd for your collection."
Slightly off-focus, but still shades of brilliance abound
IRate | 03/15/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"3 1/2
Continuing to mine an assured fusion of jazz and electronic sentiment, A Livingroom Hush presents a more laid back approach to dabbling with these hybrid structures. Maybe against the unit's best intentions, the majority of relaxed, though complex songs do rob a certain urgency present in the groups finer moments. While certainly not slacking in this more downtempo approach, the few fast-burning, melodically brilliant tracks such as the misleading opener definitely slap some of the affectionate lethargy starting to creep in over the more experimental, toothless forays. Where they are not trying to gently coast upon some beat-infested repetition, (coming across a less musically inclined, more dj-worthy approach like Bonobo) the Jazzist's are still managing to melodically innovate more effectively then most experimental, horn-based groups."