ARTIST: Twin Tigers
TITLE: Curious Faces, Violet Future
LABEL: Self-Released
GENRE: Indie
BITRATE: 188kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 19m total
RELEASE DATE: 2008-03-00
RIP DATE: 2008-03-17
Track List
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1. Red Fox Run 2:45
2. Watershed 3:40
3. Fantastic Plastic 3:32
4. Golden Daze 2:25
5. If 3:46
6. Invisible Zombies 3:23
Release Notes:
At the tail end of Psychic Hearts' existence, the group's New Wave dance beats
had melted into droning, abrasive experimentation. Each set grew darker and
dirtier than the one before, until the band's final dissolution. As quickly as
frontman Matthew Rain sprung back with Twin Tigers, you'd expect his new project
to be a continuation of this trend. It isn't.
Instead, Twin Tigers is a totally fresh approach that marks Rain's most
triumphant songwriting to date. The band's debut EP is a lush 20-minute medley
of ethereal, brooding and biting melodies. Each haunting track seems to
transition seamlessly into the next, even as tempos ride up and down in
alternating waves of aggression and placidity.
With three bandmembers sharing percussion credits, it's not surprising to hear
the relentless pulse of TV on the Radio driving underneath the tracks. But
through this steady barrage of beats and synth weaves an intoxicated, slurring,
heavily-distorted guitar riff. It stumbles across the otherwise dreamy
instrumentation, just waiting to pick a fight. Now, that's not to say it doesn't
belong here, but its abrasive shriek maintains a sense of edgy discomfort that
keeps you on your toes. It actually provides a delightfully perilous balance
between beauty and danger.
Rain also showcases his vocal dexterity like never before. For example, on
"Watershed," the verses are sung with urgent impulsiveness, and then he drops to
a lower register for the seductive chorus. You can imagine Rain sailing on
Bowie's star-ship as he croons, "As I ride away to the sun..."
If a label gets ahold of this EP, no doubt it would be drawn immediately to the
radio-worthy "Golden Daze." If you head to the band's CD release show, you'll
know this track right away. It's the one you'll be singing after the show is
over.