Okay, okay; let’s just start by unpacking a few definitions, shall we?
• A “kalimba” is one name for an instrument known by several — the mbira, the thumb piano, the marimbula — made of metal tines affixed to a big ol’ hunk of handhold-able wood, and producing a mellow, metallic tinkling sound.
• A “Tigercat” is the strange and wonderful hybrid offspring of the mighty tiger and the common house cat, more commonly known as an ocelot. They are born housebroken, and they make great pets!
(Alright. So, now you’re saying: “B-b-b-but…felines, no matter how exotic, can’t play instruments! Particularly not the THUMB piano, since they have only paws. So, why bring up these two seemingly totally unrelated — albeit TOTALLY TRUE (BOTH OF THEM) — sets of information?!?”)
BECAAAAAAUSE, dear reader…Tigercats (the “critically-acclaimed,” “kalimba-led psychedelic pop” band, hailing from East London) have announced a new album. And this puppy’s not just yer average album; it’s a woolly psychedelic record led by no other instrument than a souped-up, electrified version of the aforementioned low-tech beaut, the kalimba! Also, the album is named Pig City. (This is all starting to make a lot more sense now, isn’t it?)
The new release follows Tigercats’ previous album, 2015’s Mysteries, and it features frontperson Duncan Barrett running a kalimba through his guitar pedalboard on a set of songs apparently inspired-by the gentrification of East London!
Now that we’re both on the same page: Pig City will be purring from your speakers May 4 on El Segell del Primavera. Look out for it here; and in the meantime, check out a recent live clip of the band (presumably recorded pre-kalimba-epiphany) — as well as the cover art and full tracklisting — down below.
Pig City tracklisting:
01. Eucalyptus I
02. Eucalyptus II
03. Stay Out Of Limehouse
04. In The City
05. Candy’s Tailor
06. Essential Surrealists
07. Perfect Fried Chicken
08. Planet Thanet
09. Tropical Disease
10. So Stupid
More about: Tigercats
