By Sarah "FLAKE" Grosser
When consuming jazz on a regular basis, it’s such a welcome change to
hear something upbeat and joyful, amidst the sea of intense, emotional
think-pieces and busy experimental noodling. It’s the vibrant,
happy-go-lucky spirit of Option A that really makes it sparkle. On his
website, frontman German drummer/composer Johannes Koch states that the
band Life is Great aims to “[recreate] the feeling of his teenage
indie/postrock - years… [navigating] between naive simplicity, rhythmic
complexity and energetic improvisation.” On this relatable, undeniably
charming debut, Koch certainly achieves his goal.
The Berlin based up-and-coming quartet consists of fellow German Johannes “Jojo” Mann on guitar, Danish bassist Thorbjørn Stefansson, and Danish saxophonist Asger Nissen. Each is involved with numerous local and international musical projects: Jim Black’s Jim & The Schrimps, Kaiser Pommes with Kasper Tranberg & Oli Steidle, and Phillip Dornbusch’s Projektor, just to name a few.
On guitar, Mann often utilises a chorus pedal that will be a matter of taste for some, but for others, it adds a twist of '90s nostalgia, bringing a satisfying warmth to the overall sound. In particular, his meandering on the ballad single “No Stuart” is so chill, one would not be surprised to hear indie darling Mac DeMarco offering a vocal feature over the top. Despite its release in December, this song is the perfect soundtrack to a lazy 30°C+ summer afternoon, lounging by the poolside.
The Berlin based up-and-coming quartet consists of fellow German Johannes “Jojo” Mann on guitar, Danish bassist Thorbjørn Stefansson, and Danish saxophonist Asger Nissen. Each is involved with numerous local and international musical projects: Jim Black’s Jim & The Schrimps, Kaiser Pommes with Kasper Tranberg & Oli Steidle, and Phillip Dornbusch’s Projektor, just to name a few.
On guitar, Mann often utilises a chorus pedal that will be a matter of taste for some, but for others, it adds a twist of '90s nostalgia, bringing a satisfying warmth to the overall sound. In particular, his meandering on the ballad single “No Stuart” is so chill, one would not be surprised to hear indie darling Mac DeMarco offering a vocal feature over the top. Despite its release in December, this song is the perfect soundtrack to a lazy 30°C+ summer afternoon, lounging by the poolside.
Nissen’s saxophone glistens happily on “Happy Cargo,” and indeed the
entire album, as he soulfully channels each of Koch’s compositions,
bringing them to life with an irresistibly bright sheen. The record is
also not without its more austere, experimental moments. “Anleger/Kurve
2327” sees the group break it down with Koch softly pitter-pattering to
slow, distant, reverb/effect-heavy guitar chords, sparse sax, and
Stefansson’s thoughtful bass accompaniment. It’s a spacey
mood-interlude.
Creators on social media are currently releasing videos reminiscing
about their youth, and the good old days of 2015, and “Childhood
TikToks” announcing, “Take me back to 2020!” But as Koch composed these
songs during the pandemic – a time of great uncertainty, mass hysteria,
and basic survival – he and the others could be forgiven for prematurely
harking back to a simpler, more carefree time, when the only thing that
mattered was how much battery life you had left on your iPod Gen3.
So much of life is so shit. Maybe Koch is aware of this, but has come
through the other side to his own conclusion. Maybe he outright
disagrees, and persists with relentless positivity. Or it’s the opposite
- maybe he agrees, and the band name is simply holding a mirror to the
good times of his past.
Whatever the answer may be, with music like this - the kind that makes you stop for a moment and reflect, and maybe even smile - then just maybe, life is not so bad after all.
Whatever the answer may be, with music like this - the kind that makes you stop for a moment and reflect, and maybe even smile - then just maybe, life is not so bad after all.
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