Romance Of Young Tigers - Marie EP
[Self Released]

No Romance of Young Tigers review should ever neglect their commitment to elegant packaging and artwork. And the hand-crafted box that the “Marie EP” comes housed in is nothing short of exquisite. Contained inside, is a torn segment of an aged-looking map, people could be forgiven for thinking that this box is a lost artifact or capsule from decades past, rather than the latest outing from the Dayton , Ohio quartet. It is little touches like this that only serve to heighten the mystique surrounding this group. A fascination that has seen the EP completely sell out while at a pre-order stage. Fear not, though, there is a vinyl edition in the works that should satisfy even the most ardent record collector.

Driven by guitarist Seth Graham, the “Marie EP” finds these experimental post-rockers with a refined, almost deconstructed sound. Measured, but never methodical, this disc is arguably less instant than 2006’s “I Have Supped Full of Horrors”, but at the same time is less linear than those older compositions. The band has abstained from the Labradford merging with Mono stylings of the past in favour of a more considered approach. On this record, Romance of Young Tigers guide us through an all-consuming, inherently powerful two-part symphony of glacial-paced chord shifts, electromagnetic static, rumbling surface reverberations and resonating warmth. At times, the sound generated resembles that of an angelic choir, as the apparitional, slow-motion melodic drones thaw, melting layer upon layer of sound into pindrop silence and back again into monolithic walls of noise. All of this was recorded absolutely live,as the band refrain from using fancy production techniques and overdubs.

Fans of Machinefabriek should take note, the orbiting manipulated noise and machine like chatter pays heed to the Dutchman. As does the gradual increase of intensity and tension, with the silences throughout as integral as any instrumental factor. Imagine melting glaciers and roaring waves crashing off a cliff face. Imagine violent thunderstorms and volcanic eruptions. Now envisage Romance of Young Tigers constructing this sound. A sound that is absolutely monumental in its own unique way.

Tracklisting:

Marie (Part 1)
Marie (Part 2)