JAZ - I Played Sports

An inevitable outcome of an industry driven by new releases, is that some things will get overlooked (certainly here at a.n.o.e. where the boss is prone to hyper forgetfulness). Even in the game of re-looking at the past, some things fall to the back of the pile quicker than they should. So with well over half the year having melted into history, it occurred to me that amongst 09's album highlights (so far), I have failed to mention at least one of my favourites; the diggers treasury that is 'I Played Sports' by JAZ, a classic collection of edits if ever there was one.

I never know how long most of you have been coming here, but it's true that if u are a long time reader of these pages then you'll know I'm a major JAZ fan. Awhile back I was lucky enough to get a little chat time with this intriguing man (check here) and of course he has contributed two outstanding mixes to a.n.o.e. (Press Play #8 & 'Leather Get Going' - both are still available for download), he's put out a number of wonderful 12"s and of course the album 'I Played Sports' on Claremont 56's imprint Sixty Five (two of the finest labels of the last 3 odd years), he is also one of those clever clog's over at Dream Chimney.

So did u buy the album? What say you? If you haven't yet, consider this... As far as collections of finely re-worked gems from the past by a single artist (is it an album? is it a compilation?) you will, this year, have to at least have acquired Loud E's 'Loud E Fied', Phantom Slashers 'Key To The Tripod' & Afrobutt's 'Wunderbutt' (although it's not strictly all edits??). 'I Played Sports' is unquestionably the fourth release in this possible power quartet (?). I don't mean to suggest it's fourth in line though, they each have their own quirky visions and qualities. JAZ favours a particular range of sound which i find hard to describe accurately; you'll know he dabbles in the spacey Disco Rock end of things, unearthing tracks which are instantly familiar and simultaneously obscure and then very carefully enhances their not always obvious grooves. It's a wonderful collection which, perhaps oddly, hangs together very well as an album, rather than a collection of tracks or edits; it comes down to his very specific field of musical interests. Todd Terje paid 'Give Some Love' a lil' lip service recently on DJHistory, stating this track alone was reason enough to buy it (it's also available on a sampler 12"). For me personally, there are 14 reasons to buy this album... check 'Shake Your Wonder Maker' below for one of my favourites...