Even in a career full of radical twists and turns, 'Joggers & Smoggers' (1989) was a genuine surprise. While 'Aural Guerilla' (1988) was an attempt to capture the band's frenetic live energy in the studio, which it succeeded remarkably well, its successor, 'Joggers & Smoggers', was an attempt to ignore almost all boundaries. These 34 songs brim with boundless eclecticism, blending the band's legendary intensity with playful detours, literary inventions and references, and successful collaborations (from noise-rockers Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo to Amsterdam-based improvisers Ab Baars and Wolter Wierbos, and a host of previously known friends and allies). The result is no longer a tightly executed set of songs, but a generous eruption of creativity. On this double album, The Ex combine restlessness, playfulness, ethnic influences, and improvisational ideas already present on releases such as 'Dignity Of Labour' (1983) and 'Blueprints For a Blackout' (1984). The result is their most extensive and unique album to date, perhaps one of their truly 'most important releases', which laid the foundation for their future collaboration with Tom Cora.
