Swiftly enamoured with the new single from British singer/songwriter Tiger Lilly, we thought we would rather than focus on one slice of goodness take a full look at the album it masterfully concludes and it proved to be a wise and highly rewarding move. The Story So Far brings together a collection of songs echoing her creativity and releases of the past eight years led by that new single, Broken Glass. It is a ‘best of’ offering in many ways but also a highly tempting introduction to new ears and keener attention of one captivating and imaginative artist.
Named at birth Dani, the Tiger Lilly name began as a consequence of being told she was “too dark to be Wendy” when playing Peter Pan in the playground, being tagged as Tiger Lilly. It was just one moment in her experiences of being bullied at school, one spark which led her to write about her thoughts and feelings in a diary at home whilst listening to music which in turn evolved into poetry and lyric writing to release her over whelming emotions and despair. The ability to share and expel the rawest most honest emotions has given a power to her music which is easy to connect to for whatever reasons which goes hand in hand with her want, need, to help others though music and her Music & Mental Health Awareness workshops which Tiger Lilly takes around the country to talk about subjects close to her heart; bullying, depression, anxiety and living with Borderline Personality Disorder.
Recently becoming the official Artist in Residency at The Westbury Hotel in Mayfair, the Slough hailing songstress creates a tantalising mix of rock, indie, and pop which never fails to surprise and tempt certainly on the evidence of The Story So Far. The album opens up with Chasing Ghosts and immediately has ears transfixed and appetite licking lips as an initial guitar strum is joined by Tiger Lilly’s magnetic voice. An eager catchiness is just as swiftly there teasing attention before the song blossoms into a bold and rousing rock stroll. There is an instinctive power to the sound and energy, one equally bound to passion delivered words but also an unpredictability which only adds to the creative drama and compelling temptation.
The track is superb, a glorious start soon matched in the mellower but no less potent Promises. With a slither of Americana in its melodic sway, impassioned rock in its own highly persuasive roar, the song hits the spot dead centre before Silence is Golden swings in on a melodic canter. There is a Pretenders-esque hue to the tantalising track, a whiff of Fleetwood Mac too as it dances on the senses into the passions.
Three songs in and you just know you need to hear more, an appetite only rewarded in return by the flirtatious antics of Throw Me A Line and the more fiery heart of Over, both taking ears and imagination by boisterous hands. The first is an indie rock tango, every rhythm a mischievous incitement and hook a teasing invitation as the tones and expression of Tiger Lilly enchants with passion, beauty, and energy. Its successor has a more restrained touch to its also lively enticement but energy replaced by a more incendiary intrigue and atmosphere as it bares its soul.
Physically calmer waters are dipped into by Green Eyed Monster though its heart and emotional climate borders on lava-esque as another country like breeze colludes with melodic rock instincts before the following Army provides a plaintive plea with its own emotion arousing crescendos.
Cradled in the emotive poetry of the piano, Tiger Lilly seduces ears and thoughts within New Year next, its melancholic grace and lyrical hope a warm hug while Woman simply bears its heart with melodic elegance and emotional fire. Both songs simply get under the skin though each has to bow to the majesty of closing track and that latest single, Broken Glass. Instantly there is a thicker intensity of shadows; imposing essences skirting voice and melody from the dark corners of the track but held at bay by the beacon of light in keys and voice. It is a highly evocative and magnetic encounter providing the perfect way into the creative and reflective heart of Tiger Lilly.
The album, through track order, is set up to have you rocking and dancing then emotionally embracing and reflecting with never a moment bringing a decrease in pleasure and two way intimacy. The Story So Far has been a captivatingly honest adventure with the next exciting chapter just beginning…
The single Broken Glass is out now on iTunes.
http://www.tigerlillymusic.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/tigerlillyofficial https://twitter.com/tigerlillytweet https://www.instagram.com/tigerLillyofficial/
Pete RingMaster 10/10/2017
Copyright RingMaster: MyFreeCopyright
The following Out Of Love similarly makes a fully enticing entrance, its harmonic start breeding another eagerly infectious canter with sultry sighs to its sonic winds and atmospheric suggestion to its melody rich and harmonically glowing skies. Keys and guitars again weave a captivating enticement exploited by the outstanding vocal unity within the band; it all kept relatively earthbound by the grounded but no less tenacious rhythms.
Ghosts Of Social Networks is the one man project of Manchester based musician/songwriter Nathan Till, though a proposition which expands with the full-time assistance of drummer Ben Dargue and bassist Andrea Gobbi for shows. Early last year, Till released the debut GOSN single in the attention and acclaim grabbing shape of Love Potion/ Mockingbirds; a potent introduction only reinforced and built upon by subsequent singles Comeback Kid, No Going Back, and earlier this year the truly outstanding Outside The Wheel. The last of the releases laid down a new plateau for the sound and imagination of Till, one now magnetically courted by If This Isn’t Love.
It swiftly has ears and body on board with the single Girlfriend, the song a breeze of infectious warmth and electronic buzzing around the captivating voice of Loveland. Guitars bring a steelier fizz to proceedings, that slight edge courting the unbridled pop heart of the encounter. There is little to not eagerly embrace about the song even if, as its companions, it does not quite venture the realms of uniqueness as boldly as it might have. Nevertheless it is a temptation to greedily devour leading keener intrigue into the synth pop funk of Lonely Life. The eighties tinge of the opener is repeated within its successor, the track like a blend of Bananarama and The Ting Tings and again a captivating invitation on its own to take a lick of Ice Cream Anti Social.
The indie/psych pop of Seek Consequence is another major magnet; the swaying vocals siren-esque as darker hues brew and evolve behind their lyrical wiles until heatedly bubbling up with a drone like fever while Blackwater Homes rises up from a gentle melodic murmur into another virulently infectious and shadowed canter playing like a mix of Stevie Nicks and Pylon. Worryingly easy to be seduced by its haunting lures, and not for the first or last time fiercely tempting post punk bass bait, the track swiftly worms into the psyche.
It is a bright and tempting start which is built upon by the more boisterous exploits of Five Fingers. Rhythms are a tenacious guide into the raw melody woven web of the song, everything from voice and sharp words to a wandering keys bred warble offering enticing hooks taking the EP to another level in no time.
Royalties opens up with a song which has already lured praise carrying attention, Two Apart quickly enticing ears with its initial guitar jangle around the distinctive tones of vocalist/guitarist Ryan Ward. In no time, the swinging lure of Tim Williams’s bass and the melodic enticement of guitarist Adam Eccleston add to the song’s blossoming, the lively beats of Matthew Wright driving things with spirit. It is easy to see why the infectious exploits and dynamic prowess of the track has drawn keen plaudits, its boisterous exploits and web of melodic and sonic enterprise an accomplished and riveting proposal lined by that enjoyable Arctic Monkeys spicing.