Jaga Jazzist
Pyramid
SCORE: 7.5 out of 10
Jaga Jazzist comes back with an album that is good in its own right, but unfortunately, it’s not as engaging. This is still quality work from one of the most idiosyncratic projects around, and while it doesn’t feel like the band is running out of ideas, it does feel like they’re taking a rest from all the variety they used to deliver in a single album.
As a… “reviewer”, I don’t think I’m allowed to say when an artist is one of my favorites as it may lead readers to believe that all objectivity has gone out the window. If the review is negative, it could be disregarded as the result of irrationally high expectations; if it’s too positive, it could be seen as extremely biased. But, hell, if I’m opening with that statement, I just need to come out and say it: Jaga Jazzist is one of my all-time favorite bands. The time I saw them live was nothing short of transcendental (you can hear me yell “woo!” in this video): they’re energetic and crowd engaging without being histrionic; they play flawlessly but not rigidly, and they’re able to inject a different kind of energy to their songs, a punch that kind of goes unnoticed in their studio albums.
I could go on, but this has to remain somewhat professional. Needless to say, I have always thought highly of this band because of their willingness to explore different sounds to embed their jazz vernacular with; they make jazz sound truly futuristic. Much of that comes from their production style which has remained similar throughout their career. Most of their records sound almost robotic -with the exception being 2005’s What We Must- to the point that when you hear them live is astonishing to know they can replicate it with no problem at all.
Up to this point, the band has established a recognizable sound -a beautiful mix of Tortoise, Stereolab, Gentle Giant, Frank Zappa, and Warp Records worship- but they have managed to keep it fresh all throughout. Everything they accomplish in an album becomes more solid on the next, and it has been an innovative snowballing effect up until now. Pyramid -their latest release after 2015’s Starfire- has most of the hallmarks we’ve come to love, but they now sound too comfortable, as if they’re trapped within their own boundaries. The different moods and variety the band was able to deliver in a single album are now gone; instead, we’re treated to a mostly similar set of songs that feel more like b-sides belonging to the transition from One-Armed Bandit to Starfire.
Jaga Jazzist have always seemed cosmical and otherworldly, but never have they sounded this spiritual: “Tomita” and “The Shrine” have mellow passages that could be an update on Sun Ra’s quietest moments, and the whole album lushes with glossy psychedelic embellishments thanks to the usual combination of spiraling synth lines ringing in unison with the brass section. Outside of that, we have the usual jazz by way of Tortoise moments that reigned supreme on earlier albums, specially One-Armed Bandit but with a -literally- shinier packaging. We will find moments that are just too reminiscent of previous work, which is something that didn’t happen, or didn’t happen that much.
The album is good in its own right, but unfortunately, it is not as engaging; however, this is not mere background music despite its easy-listening nature. Pyramid feels more like if the band was taking a rest rather than running out of ideas or lowering their standards. This is still quality work from one of the most idiosyncratic bands around -it also happens to be its most accessible yet- but it is hard not to long for the most off-kilter moments. Nonetheless, this is also the sound of a band that knows what they want in terms of the overall aesthetic of their music; this is clearly the record they wanted to make and it shows, as it effortlessly flows with their signature flawless performances and pristine attention to detail. Jaga is still a savory dish even if this time they gave us the same meal as before.
