When Sydney psychedelic dance outfit Jagwar Ma appeared on our radar 3 years ago, we were convinced we had made a major breakthrough for Australian dance.
Here was a new band with a solid DIY ethic, fusing catchy hooks with EDM beats, creating a truly unique sound.
But the best part of it? They were our little secret. None of the big bad international labels and agents could get their grubby hands on Sydney’s newest alternative outfit and pump them full of the global pop propaganda.
However, much to our dismay, after the release of 2103’s Howlin’ the band (inevitably) caught the attention of critics, managers and agents alike worldwide, and after numerous international tours and festival appearances, the band relocated to the UK leaving us to rue our chance of keeping the band within our shores and their sound on our terms.
What would living in Europe mean for the band’s sound? Would they remain the same, hardworking duo from the suburbs that trusted their instincts over what was ‘hot’ at the time? Or would they give into the pressures of the international market, and allow themselves to be sculpted for consumer benefit, losing their distinct sound in the process?
The band’s second record Every Now And Then is proof that all these silly fears were well and truly unfounded.
Jagwar Ma have used the time between records to further expand their creative palate and mold their sound into something truly special. The opening combo of Falling and Say What You Feel ring true of this statement, with the former serving as an introduction to the atmospheric, slow-burn of the latter. The song is the perfect introductory statement to the unique fusion of disco, dance and pop that will be heard throughout the rest of the album, taking its time to build up to a euphoric chorus, the lyric I gotta have you baby joyfully sung over a pulsating drum beat.
What is apparent throughout the early stages of the record is the immense growth that Gabriel Winterfield and Jono Ma‘s songwriting and production skills and scope have seen. Where tracks on Howlin’ cautiously tried to mix up the conventional song structures, tracks such as Loose Ends and single O B 1 progress with clear direction and the confidence to seriously push boundaries and explore new sonic ground. The boys seem to trust themselves further on what does and doesn’t work for them. Give Me A Reason appears slightly over-indulgent at first, clocking in at seven and a half minutes. However, as the song slowly builds, with layer after layer of synths and percussion creating a wonderful canvas of sound, it becomes clear that these lads can be trusted to not let things get out of control. That being said, the final two minutes of the song, consisting of the band mucking around on the microphone whilst the beat continues, could well be the product of a tad too much wine and cheese on the farm in France that the record was conceived in.
Unafraid to break barriers and toy with with journey embarked on by their listeners, there’s a sense of immense fun, and unrestricted freedom. Ordinary moves between orchestral pop and funk, while Batter Up begins in a haze of blissful psych before settling into a thundering, dub-laden march, one of the greatest rhythms on the record. This record has some seriously good grooves.
Slipped presents itself as a quieter, more minimalistic cut, allowing the wispy yet driving beats to sit above the crooning vocals. On the other hand, High Rotations abandons melody for a glitchier, more industrial sound with the clanging percussion attacking the listener, resulting in what can only be described as an artistically uncomfortable song. It’s hard to listen to, but that seems to be the entire point.
Put simply, Every Now And Then is a wonderfully colourful and creative record. As a band, Jagwar Ma has not only found their sound- they have honed and mastered it, learning how to channel all their creative energies into audible, digestive and exciting music. Allowing them off the leash to travel the world, tour with Tame Impala and write music in the countryside of western Europe seems to have been the best possible thing for them. The results are speaking for themselves.
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