If you believed the hype, you’d herald Paper Tiger as fresh new electronica blood. From Wolverhampton bedrooms to sharing stages with acts such as Gaslamp Killer. They’ve had a couple of acclaimed EPs, but the collective doesn’ seem to have put in enough work on their full-lengther to have earned its titular moontan.
The inclusion of vocals across the album seems to occur whenever there’ cracks that need filling. Some of the takes here are so languidly lazy that they put Tricky’ weakest moments to shame. It’s almost as if these are rehearsal takes, which would be fine if the backing didn’ sound so predictable.
I understand that on ‘The Sting’, there’ the attempt to communicate the experience of love in both childhood and adulthood, but the leap from bonding over ‘Where’ Wally?’ to “‘You’ve always been a cow, I hate you’ then I bounced” is a bit of a stretch.
Sure, it adds a bit of of Lynchean underbelly to the track’ summery backing, but it’s a bit hamfisted to succeed. The flow picks up a little on ‘David Starkey’, though that’s more likely due to the energy of the trio of guesting MCs.
Elsewhere, though, tracks like ‘Irresistible’ show what the group are capable of. Sabira Jane’ vocals both mask the lack of form the song has, and highlights the ability the group has to push a tune into the major leagues, if only they’d take it.
It’s a shame, as there’ occasionally coke-and-mirror-shades instrumental gems to be found (‘Gundam Bling’), as well as some quite jazzy programming (‘Treasure Town’, ‘Crossover’, ‘Expensive Samuai’) while tracks like ‘(You’re Here, I’m There)’ hint at the sort of dark, dubby groove found in the Sabres of Paradise back-catalogue. These moments are truncated, though, as if the six-piece is too afraid to make that final leap.
The strength of the tracks increases towards the end of the disc – ‘Drift’s is the album’ instrumental highlight, and ‘Make It Through’ crackles with the best vocal performance – though that may be too late for some listeners.
Laptop Suntan? Unfortunately it’s a little more Laptop Spray-Tan; something appealing from a distance which will eventually leave an embarrassing mark that won’ wash out of your sheets.
Luke Martin
