Starfire
Starfire brings Jaga Jazzist's jazz and rock arrangements into a much more electronic setting. Synths, guitars, drums and brass share a dense space, with the Norwegian group moving through long pieces that keep changing direction. The results can be exciting and difficult to absorb in equal measure. This is music with a lot to offer, but it rarely gives the listener an easy route through the detail.
The title track opens with a lighter, spacious feel before the electronic sounds become sharper. Its changes move between a clear band sound and much rougher synth textures. The bass then helps pull the different parts into a stronger groove. There is a satisfying sense of movement, even when the arrangement seems close to becoming too crowded.
Big City Music takes the largest space in the sequence. The drums, programmed sounds and instrumental layers create a busy, restless piece, with a substantial change of direction around its middle. Strings later give the music another colour. The ambition is clear, although the number of parts can make the overall shape harder to follow than the best individual moments.
Shinkansen is a useful contrast. Acoustic guitar and lighter electronic sounds leave more room in the arrangement, with flute adding a gentler line above them. The piece feels more focused because its different elements have space to work together. It shows that the band's unusual sound can be effective without every layer competing for attention.
Oban returns to a fuller approach, building around keyboard movement, percussion and changing instrumental figures. Its grooves give the piece direction, but the repeated patterns also reveal a weakness across the album. A new sound can arrive before the previous idea has become memorable. Prungen extends that mix of distorted electronics and forceful drums, keeping the ending active rather than offering much relief.
Starfire is an interesting, uneven record. The group have the skill to connect very different textures, and several passages make that combination feel fresh. The dense mix and less distinct melodies prevent the full album from being as convincing as its strongest sections. For listeners drawn to instrumental rock with a strong electronic edge, there is still plenty here worth exploring.
