THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Tower is a new film and live album by the Norwegian eight-piece band Jaga Jazzist. Comprising of live recordings of the four compositions that make up their ninth studio album Pyramid, the band linked with director Sigurd Ytre-Arne to film an incredible live set at the top of Økern Kulturtårn in Oslo, capturing the transition from day to night as the sun set over Norway’s capital city.
“This was a beautiful night in August 2020 after five months in lockdown. It was the first day we met up and played the album together since recording it a year earlier,” explains Lars Horntveth. “The idea was to capture the sunset over our beautiful city while playing the new album from start to finish. Filmed, edited and directed by the supertalented Sigurd Ytre-Arne. We’re stoked that we captured this on film and looking forward to finally show it to everybody.”
Released last year, Pyramid saw Jaga Jazzist taking a deep dive into post-rock, jazz and psychedelia influences. The album title refers to the building blocks which make up a pyramid, and how each of the four tracks — and their constituent parts — fit together. Tomita is a nod to Japanese composer and synth player Isao Tomita, and The Shrine alludes to Fela Kuti’s legendary Lagos venue. Lars says: “I felt that this album is a small symphony, each part containing its own rooms to explore.”
