Search - Tangiers :: Hot New Spirits

Ca Va Cool!

Roy Pearl | Vancouver, BC | 04/09/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Already handicapped by superficial comparisons to Television, Wire, and the Strokes, this unpretentious, no-frills debut album by Toronto's Tangiers deserves to be listened to on its own merits.Although an undeniable displaced New York vibe does hang heavy over the album, most overtly in the alternately drawled and yelped vocals. On "Anxiety", for example, singer Yuri Didrichsons channels the voice of Jim Carroll so perfectly that the song sounds like a caffeine-jittery outtake from "Catholic Boy". One song later, on the manically propulsive "One Thousand Hands", Josh Reichman does a spot-on impression of Richard Hell . Then James Sayce splits the difference on "Ca Va Cool". If you're counting, that makes three lead vocalists. Fortunately, all three singers share so much in timbre and intensity that the identity of the band stays consistent.Instrumentally, what Tangiers shares with the Strokes is a rejection of the guitar fuzz that most modern punk/pop/garage bands hide behind, which bares a similar Lou Reed-derived strum'n'chop rhythmic chording that drives each song. But Tangiers twists that template by adding a shrill and twangy undistorted lead overtop of the din, and their songwriting playfully incorporates instrumental breakdowns and sonic digressions. There usually isn't much room to deviate in a three minute pop song, but a full third of "Eyes Shut" is hijacked by a sparse, melodic jam that builds to a perfect crescendo - it's a moment steeped in the simple joy of playing, reminiscent of the coda on the Pixies' "No. 13 Baby", and totally thrilling."Hot New Spirits" is an album that gets better and better with each listen. It may not benefit from industry hype or start a fashion revolution - thank god - but look for it to quietly make a surprise appearance on many Top 10's at the end of 2003."

Toronto band makes hook-laden garage rock monster!

Roy Pearl | 04/09/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"With Hot New Spirits, the Tangiers have reached the boundaries of the garage rock formula. Like many other contemporary garage acts, countless comparisons can be made between the Tangiers brand of garage, 70's NY punk (Richard Hell & the Voidoids, Television, etc.) and Brit punk bands (Buzzcocks, Adverts, etc.). However, while not much different than newer bands such as Hot Hot Heat, the Hives and Mooney Suzuki, the Tangiers manage to raise the standard with great pop hooks and lots and lots of energy. If you liked Hot Hot Heat's latest, this is better. If you like the Hives, this is about as catchy. If you like 60's garage/glam rock/punk rock/post-punk you will like it too--the Tangiers steal from all of these genres while creating music that still sounds fresh. Overall, this is a very solid record that will appeal to anyone who's into new garage music!"