Fond Of Tigers (Canada)

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   Fond Of Tigers are a Canadian band I recently discovered and got enthusiastic about and I though I'd share it here with you all. 

Links:
http://www.fondoftigers.com
http://www.myspace.com/fondoftigers

http://www.newmusiccanada.com/genres/artist.cfm?Band_Id=13097

http://www.dripaudio.com/releases.php?release=9 

Here's the bio Rico wrote for them:

The band called FOND OF TIGERS, bonded and crystallized in Vancouver, Canada (and sometimes even spending more time there than anywhere else), is intriguing and complex from top to bottom - which means, of course, from their basic sound and energy to their deep essence of an art and a boxed heavy style. With two albums released so far, showing two steps towards maturity and eccentricity in the same balanced way, and enough appearances that sparked interest (though, you almost have to be a hard fan to hear the beast about their stage performances), this band is raved in a very good sense of being raved: powerful and pleasant, tough to described and to shrink their extensive work and manner, it can hit the soft progressive spot as well, especially because there's much more than a style and a direction that are followed, and much more than a limit or two that are broken.

With its beginnings in 2003, the years of foundation, promotions and eventually finalize the debut are less known than the recent two, when the two albums were consecutively released. "A Thing To Live With", the first, would be the kind of perspective debut, with already powerful hints of style and play, and with decisive pieces and cracking elements in the process, but "Release the Saviour", released 2007, got a lot stronger vibes and positive marks from listeners and critics, surfacing a work that's hardly for the easy or traditional tastes. Both album have the FOND OF TIGERS septet in it, made of guitarist Stephen Lyons, violinist Jesse Zubot, drummers Skye Brookes and Dan Gaucher, trumpeter JP Carter, pianist Morgan McDonald. and bassist Shato Bhattacharya. Zubot is the artist who produced "Released..." and assured a contract with Drip Audio, being taken as an "odd, mad scientist" in his part of the music. Trumpeter Carter adds a special vibe to the music's mix, especially when the sound is filtering jazz, being quite the exotic type of instrumental, along the violin and its strange "lyric" the drum-duo, however, is also highly appreciated.
'
The act endures several visions of how to rock, jazz, groove and experiment, which is best proved by the music's heavy explosions, but the centrepiece seems to be accurate: "complicated music", "challenging rock", "theatrical pacing". The ensemble actually works both together as well as in separate groups, still, when it comes to the main albums, the full force is there on the spot. The style is provocative and difficult to describe in its entire kick-offs. Overall, jazz-rock, art-rock, avant-rock, noise/groove, indie/post or experimental/free-style are the main links to FOND OF TIGERS's "fusion", inside a work and several performance that simply have the "sin" of hyperkinetic, hard-thrust and hyper-artistic music. Jason Keller from NOW Magazine explains the feeling properly: "These Vancouver instro-improvisers are that rare breed of band that can chameleon its way into a jazz festival, get props from that set, then open for a Tortoise-type indie heavyweight and have the back-of-the-club beard-strokers tapping a toe in approval"

In regards to modern (somehow alternative) progressive rock, FOND OF TIGERS's chemistry stays quite the same (thus, also still hard to classify, given the complexity), finding it prog rock meaning to go well with the idea of such a loaded and artistic type of chock rock inside the big progressive movement. In fact, progressive is considered the complexity and the skills which mobilize the musical prism, while the musical melodies, the sudden sound-scrapes or the collective passion for improvisations are a different thing.

With keen and impulsive rolls of improvisations and avant-expressions, plus with the loud range from art/tech rock to noise and post, FOND OF TIGERS is generally an excellent sign of new prog and, overall, rock, even if it might give rash to a couple of listeners, in case the experience gets unfortunately dizzy and opaque. This band is, incidentally, somewhat part of the genre of alternative, experimental or jazz-metrical art-rock, but, again, the complexity and shine in such music has all the chances of hiding an outstanding, bombastic achievement.

(sources include reviews and notes)
:::Victor “Philip” Parau(Ricochet):::

And this text is from Drip Audio:

Fond Of Tigers
A Thing To Live With 
1. The Suburbs Are For Lovebirds – 2:46
2. North – 4:47
3. Elkore – 5:11
4. A Thing To Live With That Will Live With You – 6:11
5. Here, You Are Hated – 5:51
6. Here You Are, Hated – 7:41 (mp3)
7. Parade Rehearsal – 13:20

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: Eye Weekly
Feature/Interview: Panpot.ca
Album Review: Coda Magazine
Album Review: Paris Transatlantic Magazine
Album Review: textura.org
Album Review: CokeMachineGlow
Album Review: Exclaim! (#2)
Interview: The Nerve Magazine
Album Review: Tyee Magazine
Interview: The Georgia Straight
Album Review: Exclaim! (#1)