Comprising of former members of Esiotrot and Hexicon, Tigercats already have plenty of experience of the London indiepop scene and on their debut release under this guise that background serves them well, as this collection of tunes is a pretty consummate body of traditional snappy guitar-pop tunes whose influence comes from punk, through jangly C86 and alt-rock from the same family tree as The Pastels, Denim, Hefner et al. The subject matter is as indie as a pair of brown corduroys and some battered Converse, referencing Dalston bars, post-punk bands, trendy haircuts and East London life.
The song titles namecheck 'Kim & Thurston', 'The Vapours', 'Harper Lee', 'Stevie Nicks' and, um, 'Konny Huck' (sic). The music is scratchy guitars, choppy rhythms and crisp, half-spoken vocals. 'The Vapours' fantasises about a record shop staffed by new-wave one hit wonders (although if we're being pedantic then 'You'll Always Find Me In The Kitchen At Parties' and 'Stop The Cavalry' would technically rule Jona Lewis out of that category) and the tropical inflected 'Full Moon Reggae Party' briefly swaps London life for white sands and blue seas.
The fizzing 'Harper Lee' and 'Coffin For The Isle Of Dogs' are particularly alluring and although this album follows a well thumbed rulebook for the most part, the experimental touches and willingness to play around with tempos and guidelines give Tigercats an advantage over the rabble of similarly branded bands, and 'Isle Of Dogs' as an album is fun, interesting, lively and eclectic and has the timeless feel to match those bands whose sound theirs is descended from.
For a free download of 'Full Moon Reggae Party' head here
Tigercats' website
Buy the album
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