The second album from Nicolas Jaar’s Against All Logic alias dropped last week and it’s well worth getting excited about.
Some albums can fall into the background for la aidback listening experience. Others demand to be heard, felt, and lived within. 2017-2019 is the latter and upon play grabs you by the collar and pulls you through a portal where you find yourself in the grimiest, most dimly lit basement club you’ve ever been in. Let’s set the scene.
It’s crowded. It’s sweaty. Only the occasion strobe light illuminates the room, shining right into your eye. Blinded, you stumble into the collective gyration of the dancefloor. A faceless mass, with hive mind under Jaar’s control. You start to dance. Clanky beats buzz through the PA system. They’re overblown, feedback laced. You’re gonna wake up with a hangover and tinnitus tomorrow. You’re disoriented, delirious, and delighted.
A white light is cast down through the ceiling. Through it a voice commands you
“if you can’t beat ’em, kill ’em
If you can’t kill ’em, fuck ’em
If you can’t fuck ’em, kill ’em
If you can’t do it good, do it hard”
You obey. You do it hard. Really hard. Harder than ever. What you are doing? It. Hard.
Does it feel good? Yes.
Does it make sense? No. It’s Against All Logic.
If it weren’t for the sweat, the room would be on the verge of spontaneous combustion as the bpms pick up. You’re lost in a world of drum breaks and metallic clanks. Possessed by the spell of Jaar.
Before you disintegrate into a soup of spilled drinks, sub-bass, and Sean Paul samples, the hand grabs you again. You are pulled out of euphoria to silence.
The album ends and the craving for another trip must be satisfied. You press play and brace for the beautiful brutality.
Enter the universe of 2017-2019 via your streaming platform of choice and pay for infinite admission over here.