Well, this was difficult to review. The centre hole in this lavishly packaged 7″ was more than a tad too small, and after struggling for a while, deciding to get creative and just make the hole bigger… My patience was greatly rewarded.
The Tigers, hailing from Perth, lay down one track on the a-side, Now That I’m Old Whatever Shall I Do With My Whimsical Hardcore Tattoos, melodic themes and post rockist arrangements meld with rising rock guitar, showing the quiet vs the loud of their trademark experimentation. The track shifts effortlessly between rock and pop, and back again, ending with the shouting of the title, showing not just their musical prowess in the tracks composition, but their humour too. Great instrumentation that reminds me of the meloncoly of Piano Magic.
Stina on the b-side contribute two tracks of whimsical pop songs, part fairground theme, laptop folk and avant-garde constructions for Apple Of Mine, while Only Two sounds like its been lifted from an updated version of The Wickerman soundtrack, subtle glitches, skittering percussion, soothing flutes and undulating detuned synth pads, creepy yet beautiful. You’d be mistaken in believing this could be on such experimental pop labels as Static Caravan or Great Pop Supplement, its world class and could fit comfortably alongside many experimentalists from such labels
A great single from two of Perths most interesting and creative bands, marking the fifth split 7″ release in a continuing series from Love Is My Velocity Records. Go check them out at www.loveismyvelocity.com
Wayne Stronell
