So I think I have heard this album enough times to get a few thoughts on why I think its so great...and I do think it's great....actually phenomenal. Sometimes great music works with the cerebral side of us, sometimes the artistic side, sometimes the passionate/emotional side. Sometimes you come across an album that hits upon all of those things, and I believe that Jag does that for me. I put this on the hifi when I first got it, and was doing stuff around the house as it played, but that was not the way to approach this album. I was also in a fairly bad way when Covid first hit, so I don't think my heart was truly in it to be honest. It wasn't until I heard it in headphones did I realize all of the immense detail that Kavus put into it....reverbs, delays, sound effects, sound treatments, panning, and a universe of other intricate sounds, some of which were created by his guitar, but not in the normal way. This was the most revealing way into this album for me - I needed to become entranced into the soundworld that Kavus intended, and once I did, it was pretty incredible.
I dare not compare what albums or artists this album 'sounds like', because that would be doing it a big disservice, and it's unique anyway. However, this album gives me a similar experience to the sonic world as when I hear a great album by Floyd, Tangerine Dream, Gong, Oldfield, Sea Nymphs, etc....i think you get the point. You experience this album - it's a journey - you don't just listen to it. There were some moments that I felt like I was in an old ship out at sea during a crazy hurricane about to die(!), other times I'm floating in some tranquil place that I don't ever want to leave. Like Indian classical music or traditional Irish music which is built upon a drone with a tanpura or Uilleann pipes, Kavus uses the harmonium in a similar manner as the basis for creating the backbone for some of these compositions, and in some ways it is the most important aspect of this album along with the vocals (which BTW are superb!!!!....his best ever). If you dig drone-type soundscape albums, you must hear this.
I could go on and on and try to describe the tunes themselves, but hearing them is a must and I can't truly do them justice. I shit you not - this album has the power to bring one to tears if you let it - not for any particular reason - but just because I feel that it is immensely powerful and beautiful (and frightening). I don't buy a ton of music these days for a multitude of reasons, but Hip to the Jag is and most likely will be my album of the year. I have many albums in my collection that are in the "I don't care if I sell this" pile, and some in the "I will never, EVER sell this masterpiece" pile of classics, and this is absolutely in the latter pile - a modern classic, a gem, a true piece of art, an intimate album made by a tremendously talented guy. I truly believe that everyone on this board is doing themselves a disservice by at least not trying one or two listens to this, and I mean real intense dedicated late night listens. These are my own personal thoughts and you may not agree with them, but there you go anyway. Thank you Kavus for an incredible achievement. 10/10.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Kavus Torabi
Bookmarks