Le Tigre

Key tracks:

Hot Topic
Friendship Station
Deceptacon

Label: Rough Trade Publishing

Description:

Sugar coated gem of glitzy-alt-pop-brilliance.

Le Tigre is Kathleen Hanna, better known for defining the 90’s riot Grrrl movement with her previous outfit Bikini Kill, working alongside former fanzine producer Johanna Fateman and visual artist JD Sampson. Moving away from the didactic and hard hitting feminist politics of Riot Grrrl, the trio manage to maintain their lyrical integrity carried in the new medium of their catchy dance party. The resulting product is a culmination of art, energised punk rock, great dance routines and sing-along lyrics all tightly arranged into a gloriously sugar coated alt pop package for your inevitable consumption and love.

The bands self titled album “Le tigre” (1999) is a glorious collage of garage rock songs, surf guitars, 60’s girl groups, cinematic samples and infectious dance floor rumbling hip hop beats. It’s the best 80’s New wave album that never happened. The lyrics maintain their underlying themes but are pinned down to a deep rooted pop sensibility and rhyme. Deceptacon kicks off the album with a start, the trashy bass underpins the template for things to come leading you straight into the hip hop/electro/punk/pop melee. It’s impossible not to dance along with catchy hooks and killer grooves coming from all directions. Once Kathleen’s orient tinged vocal cries “Wanna Disco, Wanna see me disco?” the deal is made you’re here for the whole glitzy ride.

Second up is “Hot Topic,” the topic in question being influential women in history. The theme is one now synonymous with Le Tigre and is expertly delivered over a heavy 60’s groove, with a generous dose of the B52’s and the Supremes in equal measure. Just like in Billy Joel’s “We didn’t start the fire” and Madonna’s “Vogue” you’ll find yourself trying to memorise the roll call.