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The debut release from Vancouver's Fond Of Tigers, A
Thing To Live With, is a diverse and challenging listen that defies simple
genre classification. In just under 50 minutes, the band (variously described
in print as "compelling", "eclectic", "transcendent",
"hypnotic", and "post-everything") moves between sounds
which reference prog-rock freakouts, pastoral, back-porch picking, wonky
jazz, hardcore math-metal, and ambient drone, without ever coming across
as a pastiche act. The material on 'a thing to live'
with was recorded live, with all the musicians and amplifiers in one room,
by Jesse Gander at the Hive.
Fond of Tigers have been developing a complicated,
beautiful sound since 2003. Featuring seven of Vancouver’s leading
creative musicians, Fond of Tigers play a layered, nuanced music that
explores musical possibilities ranging from the smallest gesture of extended
technique, to the full avant-rock bombast possible with a wild, double-drum-kit-led
septet. Although admitting that “jazz purists will find little to
comfort them”, Coda magazine named the group’s debut recording,
a thing to live with (Drip Audio) “one of the best releases of 2006”.
In just under 50 minutes, the band (variously described in print as "compelling",
"eclectic", "transcendent", "hypnotic",
and "post-everything") showcases their visceral combination
of meticulous odd-time composition and improvisational abandon, resulting
in a sometimes confusing, always exhilarating ordered chaos.
This dynamic and adventurous 7-piece
inhabits an undefined space somewhere in the outlands of avant-rock. Fond
Of Tigers is made up of some of Vancouver’s finest, young and creative
musicians on the scene today. They are: Stephen Lyons (Heartwarmongering)
on guitar, Morgan McDonald (The Buttless Chaps) on keyboards, JP Carter
(Inhabitants, Great Aunt Ida) on trumpet, Skye Brooks (Inhabitants, Kevin
House) on drums, Dan Gaucher (The Buttless Chaps, October Trio) on drums,
Jesse Zubot (Zubot & Dawson, LaConnor) on violin and Shanto Battacharya
(Field) on bass.
Press:
"...instrumental wonders...atmospheric and very Chicago." -
The Globe and Mail
"...kaleidoscopic prog rock laced with out-jazz, barbed-wire noise
and ambient weirdness..." - Paris Transatlantic Magazine
"...just the right touch of dissonance and improvising possessed
by the spirit of No Wave." - Signal To Noise
"...a fairly spry album that doesn't
waste a minute." - NOW Magazine
"...a perfect ice-breaker for out-jazzers
and disaffected hipsters." - Down Beat
"...a new sound, and a mark of true genius." - Terminal
City
"Far from using well-worn copies of Miles Davis' Kind of Blue as
a touchstone, this septet sounds like Sonic Youth, Aphex Twin or the late
composer Ligeti are more logical starting points for its sonic forays.
Adventurous, exciting and frequently off its nut, the band can rock hard
while getting its improv on, making it a fit at an outside indie gig or
at a jazz show. The twin drummer set-up all but ensures a driving
beat turns up most times, but there are many moments of quite introspection,
too." - The Province (Vancouver)
Press:
Live
Concert Review: All About Jazz (Victoriaville '07)
Album Review: NOW Magazine
Album
Review: Left Hip Magazine
Album
Review: Coda Magazine
Album
Review: Paris Transatlantic Magazine
Album
Review: textura.org
Album
Review: CokeMachineGlow
Album
Review: Exclaim! (#2)
Album
Review: Tyee Magazine
Interview:
The Georgia Straight
Album
Review: Exclaim! (#1)
Links:
fondoftigers.com
myspace.com/fondoftigers
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