Artist: Tigrova Mast
Label: Raig
Release: 2007
Rating: 4.4/5
The Croatian band Tigrova Mast came together when Niko Potočnjak, guitarist and keyboardist of Seven That Spells, found two other lunatics willing to help him make music that’s as off-the-wall and experimental as possible, even more so than Seven That Spells.
Tigrova Mast play music that’s hard to describe as anything but avant-garde. The label fits them like a glove, because they’re just so different. And the thing is, they’re different without even trying. You can tell they simply follow the music they want to play, and that charge comes through in the compositions too, which are so soaked in enthusiasm they put a grin on your face. On top of the experimental elements there’s plenty of psychedelia, especially in the organ themes. And of course the Arabic and Balkan bits can’t be missing either. In short, everything with the right energy ends up on this album.
The divx file showing the band live in Zagreb also speaks volumes about the incredible energy this lineup has. It’s proper punk and metal mayhem, even though there isn’t a single guitar in the music. When you see the guys walk on stage, you think it’s going to be some kind of nonsense. Niko Potočnjak plays a miniature keyboard, and plenty of people would take it for a kid’s toy. But what this guy does with that “toy” is insane.
Tigrova Mast play contemporary avant-garde music. You could call it a kind of upgrade of Mr. Bungle, or you could say there’s a lot of Ruins in there (minus the vocals). You could point to similar bands, but the fact is these guys don’t follow trends. They play their own thing, a blistering music of their own that drags you in with its enthusiasm and drive.
At first the music seems fairly simple, but the longer you listen and try to follow the patterns, the more you notice how exceptionally composed and structured it is, and the rhythms can get seriously tricky too. At first glance it’s a trio with punk energy and a punk way of playing, but there’s so much more depth and musical know-how hiding in there.
The unofficial leader of the band would have to be Niko Potočnjak (aka Brain). He plays a miniature keyboard called a microkorg. The sound is like old-school organs, and they really create a special effect. At times it feels like I’m in the sixties, then other times it sounds modern. Truly splendid! Then there’s the mad bass player, whose lines are bombastic, pulsating, hugely important and almost metal. The bass tone is pretty prominent, and that’s exactly how it should be. Jannick Top was front and center in Magma too. And then there’s the drummer, who holds down the rhythm just as brilliantly and has no easy job at all, since the rhythms are often quite convoluted.
This band is unbelievable. The energy you feel on both the studio album and the live recording is fantastic. The guys can play, but they also know how to have fun. They’re real entertainers, and no wonder the Japanese have shown interest in them (the album was mastered by none other than Yoshida Tatsuya of Ruins and Koenjihyakkei). The album is pure experimental madness, a full-on rampage you can’t find even on many metal and punk albums. Anyone into wild, contemporary experimental and avant-garde music will devour this album, because it’s over in a flash. You don’t even realize when 33 minutes went by (plus 37 minutes of video footage). One of the best contemporary bands out there, I have no doubt. I only hope they’ll make it to Slovenia some day so I can experience their incredible energy firsthand.
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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.
Lineup
Niko (Brain) – keyboards (microkorg)
Tvrtko (Gut) – bass
Bruno (Heart) – drums
Production
Tigrova Mast
Tracklist
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)
