MTV Review: Jagwar Ma Live At Camden's Electric Ballroom

Back in 2013, Noel Gallagher said that whenever he met up with his former Oasis band mates, they never spoke about getting one of the world’s biggest bands back together because “we’re too busy talking about f**king […] Jagwar Ma”.

High praise indeed – and that was before Jagwar Ma had even released their first album, Howlin’. Since then, Jagwar Ma have (in their words) grown a “little older, little wiser, and a little bit dumber,” released a second record, Every Now And Then, and toured all over alongside the likes of The xx, Foals and Tame Impala. Life could be a lot worse for Jono Ma, Gabriel Winterfield and bassist Jack Freeman.

With a set list split fairly evenly between their two albums, Jagwar Ma’s second record – which featured some guest drumming from Warpaint’s Stella Mozgawa – gets a deserved run-out. ‘Ordinary’ and ‘O B 1’, the latter being named after a vintage synth, are two of the highlights.

When so much music released in 2016 sounds like a boardroom full of suits have got together and plotted how best to optimise a track so that it flies up streaming charts (death to all tropical house), Jagwar Ma, who sound part psychedelic rock, part experimental electronica, part pop and part dance, are comparatively refreshing.

As the gig draws to a close, an extended version of the group’s best song, ‘Come Save Me’, with its fluid beats and psychedelic effects, gets Electric Ballroom really going. Finishing on the epic ‘The Throw’, the massive, trippy outro is the perfect way to close. If you ever get the chance – go see Jagwar Ma.

Jagwar Ma’s second album, Every Now And Then, is out now.

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