Jaga Jazzist - What We Must

7.0 - Norway - 2005

The fourth album from the Norwegian outfit blends elements of post-rock, electronica, and jazz fusion into a heady, spacey stew (although I’d say the jazz element, at least on this record, is a little overstated). The seven tracks on this record are all fairly lengthy, heavily layered excursions – I’m told that the nearly eight minute opener “All I Know Is Tonight” got pop radio play in Norway. There’s certainly much technical acumen on display here, but outside of a few highlights – the aforementioned widescreen opener, the endlessly building “Swedenborgske Rom” and the sprightly “Mikado” – it all feels a bit soulless. Psyched, but tamed.