Izvajalec: Tigrova Mast
Založba: Raig
Izid: year
Ocena: 4.4/5
Hrvaška skupina Tigrova Mast je nastala, ko je kitarist in klaviaturist skupine Seven That Spells, Niko Potočnjak, našel še dva druga norca, ki sta mu bila pripravljena pomagati ustvarjati glasbo, ki je čim bolj odštekana in eksperimentalna, še bolj kot Seven That Spells.
Tigrova Mast igra glasbo, ki bi jo težko opisal drugače kot avantgardna. Ta pojem jim je nekako pisan na kožo, ker so tako drugačni. Stvar je pa v tem, da so drugačni ne da bi se trudili. Vidi se, da le sledijo glasbi, ki jo želijo igrati in ta naboj se čuti tudi v kompozicijah, ki so tako prepojene z navdušenjem, da ti zvabijo nasmešek na obraz. Poleg teh eksperimentalnih elementov je prisotne dosti psihadeličnosti, še posebej v orgelskih temah. Seveda tudi arabski in balkanski deli ne smejo izostati. Skratka, vse kar ima tisto pravo energijo se nahaja na albumu.
Tudi divx file, ki prikaže skupino med koncertom v Zagrebu zelo zgovorno priča o tem kakšno neverjetno energijo ima ta zasedba. Gre za pravo punkovsko in metalsko razmetavanje, pa čeprav v glasbi ni nobenih kitar. Ko vidiš fante, ki prikorakajo ne oder, si misliš, da bo to neka bedarija. Niko Potočnjak igra na neke miniaturne klaviture in marsikdo bi mislil, da gre za otroško igračko. Vendar kaj ta človek s to “igračo” stori, je pa noro.
Tigrova Mast igrajo sodobno avantgardno glasbo. Lahko bi rekli, da gre za nekakšno nadgradnjo Mr. Bungle, lahko bi pa tudi rekli, da je dosti elementov Ruins (vendar brez vokalov). Lahko bi se sklicevali na podobne skupine, a dejstvo je, da ti fantje ne sledijo trendom. Igrajo čisto neko svojo nažigaško glasbo, ki te potegne s svojim entuziazmom in zagonom.
Sprva se zdi glasba dokaj preprosta, vendar pa dlje časa, ko jih poslušaš in skušaš slediti vzorcem, opaziš, da je izjemno komponirana in strukturirana in tudi ritmi znajo biti zelo težavni. Na prvi pogled trio s punkovsko energijo in načinom igranja, vendar pa se v glasbi skriva še toliko več globine in glasbenega znanja.
Za neuradnega vodjo skupine bi lahko izbrali Nika Potočnjaka (ali Brain). Igra na miniturne klaviature z imenom microkorg. Zvok je kot pri starinskih orglah in res ustvarijo prav nek poseben efekt. Včasih se zdi kot da sem v šestdesetih, spet drugič pa se mi zdijo moderne. Res imenitno! Potem je tu še nor basist, čigar linije so bombastične, utripajoče, izjemno pomembne in skoraj metalske. Zvok basa je precej prominenten in tako je tudi prav. Tudi Jannick Top je bil pri Magmi v ospredju. Potem je tu še bobnar, ki prav tako imenitno drži ritem in nima prav nič lahkega dela, saj zna biti ritem pogosto precej zapleten.
Ta skupina je neverjetna. Energija, ki se čuti tako na studijskem albumu kot na živem posnetku je fantastična. Fantje znajo igrati, a znajo se tudi zabavati. So pravi zabavljači in ni čudno, da so zanimanje za njih pokazali tudi Japonci (za master albuma je bil odgovoren sloviti Yoshida Tatsuya (Ruins, Koenjihyakkei)). Album je popolna eksperimentalna norija, čisto divjanje kot ga ni moč zaslediti niti na mnogih metalskih in punkovskih albumov. Vsi ljubitelji divje, sodobne eksperimentalne in avantgardne glasbe bodo ta album požrli, saj mine v trenutku. Sploh se ne zavedaš kdaj je minilo 33 minut (pa še 37 minut video posnetka). Ena najboljših sodobnih skupin, v to ne dvomim. Upam le, da bodo prišli še kdaj v Slovenijo, da njihovo izjemno energičnost izkusim še sam.
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The Croatian band Tigrova Mast was formed when the guitarist and keyboard player for Seven That Spells, Niko Potocnjak, found two other mad men who were willing to help him create the wackiest music imaginable, even more so than Seven That Spells.
Tigrova Mast play music that would be difficult to describe in other terms than avant-garde. This seems most suitable for them, just because they are so different. But the thing is, they are different without any real effort. It shows that they play music they want to play and this is felt in the compositions, which are so enthusiastic and exuberant that they bring a smile to your face. Besides the experimental elements, there are also some psychadelic influences, especially in the antiquated sound of the organ. Some Arabic (they use the same sample as Chemical Brothers on Galvanize to get that Eastern flavour) and Balkan influences are also present. Anything with the right energy was used in the making of this record.
The video footage, which shows the band on one of their concerts in Zagreb, also speaks volumes about the enthusiasm these guys have for music. The vibe is very reminiscent of punk or metal, even though there are no guitars in the music. When you see the guys walk on stage, you think that nothing much could come of this. Niko Potocnjak plays these miniature keyboards that many people would think is a child’s toy. But he is able to create some wonders with this “toy”.
Tigrova Mast play a modern avant-garde style of music. We could say they are a sort of upgrade to Mr. Bungle and we could also say they seem similar to Ruins in a way (sans the vocals, of course). We could name other similar bands, but the fact remains that these guys don’t follow trends. They play their own wild music, which sucks you in with its enthusiasm and drive.
At first, the music seems fairly simple, but the longer you listen to them and try to follow the structures and patterns, the more you notice how devilishly tricky this music is. It is well composed and structured and rhythmically intricate. At first glance this is a trio with punk energy and a punk style of playing, but there is so much more depth and musical knowledge in the music.
One could say that Niko Potocnjak (or Brain) is the unofficial leader of the band. He plays a miniature keyboard called a microkorg. The sound is reminiscent to really antique organs and the effect is quite special. Sometimes these keyboard passages take you back to the 60s, while at other times they sound modern. It’s spectacular! Then we also have the mad bass player, whose lines are bombastic, pulsating, very important and almost metal in nature. The sound of the bass is very prominent, as it should be. Jannick Top was also prominent in Magma. Finally, there is also a drummer with a great sense of rhythm, which is tougher than it sounds because the rhythmical patterns can be pretty intricate.
This band is amazing. The energy level on the studio album and on the live recording is fantastic. The guys know how to play, but they also know how to have fun. They are regular entertainers and it’s no wonder that the Japanese have taken a shining to them (Yoshida Tatsuya was responsible for mastering the album). The album is an experimental frenzy. It is so powerful that even metal or punk releases cannot compare to it. Everyone who loves wild, modern experimental and avant-garde music will eat this album up because the music just flies by. The 33 minutes (plus the 37 minutes of the video) go by in a flash. This is one of the best modern bands, there’s no doubt of that.
Zasedba
Niko (Brain) – klaviature (microkorg)
Tvrtko (Gut) – bas
Bruno (Heart) – bobni
Produkcija
Tigrova Mast
Seznam skladb
1. Srcolomka (1:43)
2. Pustinjski Crvi Jašu Po Trebe (2:42)
3. Intermezzo Q (0:27)
4. Dobrojutro Konjska Glavo (1:36)
5. Derviš Pogo (2:21)
6. Šakal Ga Nije Volio (1:57)
7. Intermezzo QQ (0:50)
8. Svinjska Alka (1:35)
9. Di Sam Bio Jučer, Danas Je Loše (1:34)
10. Intermezzo QQQ (0:56)
11. Zlatni Kalašnjikov (3:11)
12. Intermezzo QV (0:44)
13. Mjesec Ko Sablja (3:58)
14. Tehnika Narodu (2:12)
15. Otvorilo Mi Se Čelo (0:55)
16. Osveta Shaolina (3:02)
17. Intermezzo V (2:35)
18. Sreća Na Skarabeju (0:18)
