Animal Chin EP

On this absolutely intoxicating album, Animal Chin, Norway's Jaga Jazzist brilliantly combine everything from Stereolab to Mego recording artists like Fennesz to Autechre and Aphex Twin. The title track brilliantly alternates between laid-back jazz and tweaked Squarepusher drum'n'bass — that is, until it spirals into a retro chic, vibes-and-synthesizer, bachelor-pad groove. "Low Battery" has an eerie slow-motion shimmer that's complimented by up-front beats and a film noir moodiness, but it's immediately followed by "Toxic Dart," a buzzing, simmering, out-of-control laptop jam that's crisp, clean, and utopian. Herein lies Jaga Jazzist's greatest strength — the ability to hopscotch between startlingly hip and experimental genres while making it all sound so perfectly coherent and resonant.