Tuna - Tiny Tiger

  by John Clarkson

published: 18 / 1 / 2002

Label: Emmas House
Format: 7"

intro

Convincing debut single from new German group which nods both at C86 and shoegazing pop.

Tuna are from Seigen in Germany and formed in 1998, feature Katha on guitar and vocals ; Markus on guitar ; Falko on bass and Denis on drums. 'Tiny Tiger', their debut single, has been released in a limited edition 7" vinyl pressing of 200 copies on the Manchester singles label, Emma's House. The title track and its B side 'Graveyard' were both taken from a demo,and inevitably, as a result, the slightly unpolished production values of their recording do not quite match up or gel with the group's gilted sound.Both songs are, however, played with an impressive and passionate sense of mood, emotion and energy. The four piece band list Slowdive amongst their influences, and the epic 'Tiny Tiger' is reminiscent with its ethereal vocals; crinkling guitars and dreamy sound of both that early nineties group, and also other shoegazing acts from the same era such as Lush, the Cranes and the Cocteau Twins. 'Graveyard, however, finds Tuna tunnelling back further still into musical history and in contrast shows off another completely different side to the band. 'Graveyard', like 'Tiny Tiger', bounces clean cut guitarwork against discordance, but jangly and poppy and short and straight to the point, instead recalls Sarah and Subway Records era artists such as Heavenly and the Flatmates with its snappy whimsicality. While it remains to be seen which of these two radically differing paths Tuna may ultimately decide to focus on, this is a convincing debut by an accomplished and strong act.

Track Listing:-