Motorpsycho + Jaga Jazzist – “In the Fishtank ” – [Konkurrent]

Rococo   7/5/2005   A Library, CD

Norwegian rockers Motorpsycho team up with the Jaga Jazzist horn section for another in the series of experimental EPs recorded “in the fishtank” at Konkurrent Studios, Amsterdam. The first two tracks here follow a post-rock template, quietly melodic and reminiscent of bands like Isotope 217. By track three, the horns start to dominate and you get a more downtown NYC kind of vibe: it’s jazz, but with a strong rock backbone. Track four is a pretty ferocious cover of the Art Ensemble of Chicago’s “Theme de Yoyo,” which finds both Psychos and Horns at their best. The final track is a 20-minute percussive jam that builds slowly, from a shimmering whisper to a cataclysmic scream. A truly successful collaboration that, like other releases in this series, just leaves the listener wanting more.