Tigarah EP
Length: EP
Rated: NONE
Media: CD
Format: Album
WorkNameSort: Tigarah EP
It’s impossible to listen to Tokyo musician Tigarah without thinking about two people: Tila Tequila and M.I.A. The former because Tigarah’s reputation as a MySpace phenomenon is ‘ thanks to the parasitic memorability of her ‘Girl Fight!â?� song ‘ about to eclipse that of the bizarre Miss Tequila. The latter because, well, Tigarah sounds exactly how M.I.A. would sound if she were a Japanese college student, rather than an expat South Asian with a radical-insurgent dad. The grime/baile funk/techno trash sound that M.I.A. essentially introduced to the non-crate-digging citizens of the world is thoroughly and shamelessly exploited by Tigarah. This eight-track EP is even visually reminiscent of Piracy Funds Terrorism. But it must be said clearly and loudly that Tigarah is no M.I.A. From the the saccharine, lyrically transparent balladry of ‘The Game in Rioâ?� to the unimaginative production work on the bouncy ‘Money,â?� Tigarah’s immaturity and lack of vision ultimately overpowers the winning catchiness of some of the disc’s high points.
This article appears in May 17-23, 2006.