Papier Tigre are a hard group to get a handle on. Mainly post-hardcore punks, these guys have a more quirky take on the songwriting process than some which has left some of the tracks sounding like bad cut and shunt jobs as disparate sections are forced together. The overall jigsaw approach can be off putting, but the Papier Tigre CD has something extra going for it – these guys can really play together as a unit. The tracks sound, apart from some of the vocals, like they were recorded live, and once I realised this, it led to an appreciation of a tight and focused band. Even as the sections jump from one gear to another, the band never sound anything less than solid. The overall sound is dry and brittle, with only room reverb colouring the drums and vocals that aim towards aggression rather than melody. These guys clearly take their sonic template from early Fugazi.
While not the easiest listen this ‘Bunny has had, and not one I’ll be taking any sing-along melodies from, I was surprised how this CD grew on me through subsequent listens (yes I do listen to all my CDs for review more than once). I’m not a great aficionado of American Punk, but if you are, Papier Tigre are worth checking out.