Shelf Life: Clap! Clap! , Sloan, Jaga Jazzist

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Happy 2015! Here in the KCRW Music Library we are excited about all of the new records that just beginning to trickle into our hands this year. But the holiday break gave me a chance to catch up with some records from the end of last year.

Clap! Clap! – Tayi Bebba (Black Acre)

Italian producer Cristiano Crisci aka Digi G’Alessio offered up his debut album under the Clap! Clap! name last year & it was beloved by many of our late night crew.

Built around the concept of a tour of a fictitious island, it uses lots of intriguing world-beat sounds in a fresh, new way.

Sloan – Commonwealth (Yep Roc)

This Canadian quartet is a cultural institution up north, with nearly a quarter century of killer power pop-inflected indie rock.

Their 11th album is a double-album, with a side dedicated to each of their four songwriters. And, although they remain merely a cult-favorite in the US, their appearance at this year’s Coachella festival may change that.

Jaga Jazzist – ’94-’14 (Ninja Tune)

Experimental Norwegian jazz group Jaga Jazzist celebrate their 20th anniversary with a special vinyl reissue of their 2004 album, “A Livingroom Hush,” with lots of bonus material, including some previously unreleased demos & exclusive remixes from the likes of Clark, Teebs, Big Black Delta, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson & others.

ERIC J. LAWRENCE