Papier Tigre - Recreation

by Adrian Huggins

published: 28 / 2 / 2012

Label: Africantape
Format: CD

Unpredictable hardcore on third album from French-based three-piece, Papier Tigre

Review

Papier Tigre I suppose could be classed as ‘Post-hardcore’ whatever that means. I usually equate that term to bands that are, interesting, have an indie-punk-leaning, and don’t really sound like the sort of thing that people that don’t “get” good music wouldn’t like. Think Yourcodenameis:milo, Rival Schools, Get Up Kids, that sort of thing. Ringing any bells? Well how about Fugazi? Well, they’re also “post-hardcore” in some circles, but well they don’t really sound like them either. But that’s fine. I’d hedge a bet that if you like the music of Fugazi, then , apart from being a cool mo’fo’, you would definitely be digging Papier Tigre. Wall to wall with odd time signatures and break downs and with the occasional splattering of spoken-word style lyrics, it’s definitely the grown up version of hardcore scene. More refined than the band's previous albums, this is a real step up, and I would even go as far as to say that this is both more accessible and more complex than the “math-rock” that they have been pedalling since their self titled debut in 2007. Having got themselves around the world following their first two albums, the aforementioned self-titled debut and the absolutely fantastic ‘The Beginning And End Of Now', it is clear that the band have really grown and developed. For any people au fait with the Dismemberment Plan, Papier Tigre are a must. They have unpredictability by the bucket load yet ‘Recreation’ is at no point a hard listen. Fair enough, it’s probably never going to knock that Adele woman that everyone keeps going on about off the charts, but what it would do is run rings round her and make her go back and rethink everything she’s ever done. Tunes like ‘The Later Reply’ and ‘Chimera’ really show-off the band's development and sum up their overall sound perfectly. ‘Home Truth’ is definitely one I would pick out as a track that the old fans will instantly love. The group have managed to keep every bit of the sound which made them so great, but have also managed to develop and create something fantastic.

Track Listing:-

1 I'm Someone Who Dies
2 Chimera
3 Home Truth
4 This and That and More of This and That
5 The Later Reply
6 Demand
7 Afternoons
8 Teenage Lifetime
9 Parents and Neighbours
10 Wandering Cage

Band Links:-

https://twitter.com/papier_tigre
https://vimeo.com/papiertigre
https://www.facebook.com/papiertigre
http://papiertigre.com/
http://papiertigre.bandcamp.com/music
http://www.bandsintown.com/PapierTigre