“Starting tomorrow, I’ll do exercise. But I probably won’t.“
Tigress have been carving their sound and building upon their skills since their debut release in 2015, developing from a sound closer to Paramore and We Are The In Crowd to something that is undoubtedly their own.
Leading the charge ahead of the release of Pura Vida, the Essex quintet were already coming in hot with “Disconnect” and “F.L.Y.“. With the former track being a fuzzed out riot propelled by the punishing bass line, this track would no doubt inject life into any hallowed venue floor. A straight to the point song that has an utterly superb chorus hook devolves into a cosmic flurry of noise. Similarly, “F.L.Y.” features these two elements at the forefront of this sonic warcharge. With verses a little more subdued, the choruses hit just as hard as they arrive. The fuzz guitars and wailing lead lines under the powerhouse vocals of Katy Jackson make for a truly invigorating listen.
Pura Vida is filled with noisy and adventurous tracks throughout, particularly the raucous opener “Generation” which seeps with a sneering attitude to the grind of modern life. A track that highlights the generational gap and the mess the youth of today are left to clean up. While this band excels at making a beautiful racket, with sonic chaos emanating from the lead guitar, it is on “Starting Tomorrow” that shines with a stoic honesty. Simply an acoustic guitar and Jackson’s vocals this track is an ethereal breath above the waves of noise. As Jackson sings this line, a small laugh ends the sentence. That added touch, paired with the bareness of the track shows a brutal honesty and vulnerability elevating the track to an even more relatable level.
Overall, this is a strong debut for a band to come out with. It is clear they have spent time and attention crafting these songs and their vision for Pura Vida. Tigress manage to establish their own sound while taking influence from their contemporaries such as Wolf Alice and The Estrons. Pura Vida is available now via Humble Angel Records, and you can purchase/stream the record here.
7/10