Jaga Jazzist '94 - '14

Jaga Jazzist is:

a. A jazz band

b. A rock band

c. A progressive rock band

d. A hip-hop group

e. A rap group

f. A reggae group

g. A polka band

h. A comedy band

i. An electronica group

j. A classical ensemble

k. A choral ensemble

l. All of the above

m. None of the above

The answer for any who have heard the group's entire discography is, indeed, both (l) and (m) because in its two decades of existence - across five studio albums, one live album, five EPs (CD and vinyl), one live DVD and now this box set - Jaga has, at one time or another, been all of these things and yet at the end of the day is really none of them.

It's hard to believe that the Norwegian 8-piece band (founded on the Horntveth triumvirate - Lars, Martin and Line) is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, in 2014. Not that there aren't other groups that have lasted as long, but look for a group whose primary composer was just 14 when the whole thing began, find a band where five out of its eight current members were there when everything started in 1994, and scope out one that has managed to remain as stylistically enigmatic and impossible to categorise as... well, you get the idea.

And so we thought it fitting to mark the band's 20th year with a unique, limited edition vinyl box set featuring a special reissue of the landmark album 'A Livingroom Hush' (2004) with 4 previously unreleased demo cuts from those recording sessions as bonus digital downloads. Also in the box: 2 crisp 12"s featuring exclusive reworks based on elements from the album Jaga Jazzist Live with Britten Sinfonia from a stellar cast of remixers… Warp Records stalwart Clark; breakbeat scientist Machinedrum; Brainfeeder's sonic dreamweaver Teebs; Mellowdrone founder Jonathan Bates aka Big Black Delta; LA-based composer, orchestrator, conductor, multi-instrumentalist and producer Miguel Atwood-Ferguson (Cosmogramma, You're Dead, Suite For Ma Dukes, Build An Ark); Werkdiscs' rising star Moiré; Hoya:Hoya co-founder Illum Sphere; and Stockholm's Invader Ace.

Extended sleeve notes by John Kelman (All About Jazz) come in a beautiful 24 page booklet with archive photography documenting the rise and rise of this iconic collective.

A Livingroom Hush:
1. Animal Chin
2. Going Down
3. Press Play
4. Airborne
5. Real Racecars Have Doors
6. Low Battery
7. Midget
8. Made For Radio
9. Lithuania
10. Cinematic

Reworks Pt.1:
1. Bananfluer Overalt (Clark Remix)
2. Music! Dance! Drama! (Big Black Delta Remix)
3. Kitty Wu (Machinedrum Remix)
4. Toccata (Teebs Remix)

Reworks Pt.2:
1. Miguel Atwood-Ferguson - Rose Heiress
2. Oslo Skyline (Moiré Remix)
3. Toccata (Illum Sphere Remix)
4. Toccata (Invader Ace Remix)