"TTT is at the cutting edge ofcontemporary music. Watch your fingers!"-Brian Eno
Today, almost five years since the release oftheir acclaimed debut album "Route One or Die", London'sThree Trapped Tigersannounce the release of theirsecondfull-length, 'Silent Earthling', due April 1ston Superball Music.They havelaunched the title track from the album which you can listen to here:
https://youtu.be/CMr5ZWPBEhM
"I think the problem for anyonestriving to create their own sound is, once you ' hopefully - have achievedthat, how do you expand that whilst maintaining it?"asks guitarist and keyboardplayer MattCalvert of himself on the evolution of Three Trapped Tigers. Theanswer in this instance is really rather a simple one and it is to be foundwithin the glorious, eclectic and exhilarating 'Silent Earthling', analbumthat carries forward the unique idiosyncrasies the group have shaped forthemselves, whilst simultaneously expanding into previously unexploredterritory.
For the unacquainted, Three Trapped Tigers are aband for which genres & labels struggle to keep up, they move 'often at breakneckspeed - from screeching, effect-laden guitars, an arsenal of glistening sci-fisynths, pummelling sub-bass, colossal riffs and audacious drum patterns thatboth underpin and define their unique sound. As anyone who has seen theirincendiary live shows will know, trying to pinpointwhat makes the group such aforce is a difficult thing to do. On stage they are something of a vortex,creating a swirling mass of layered sounds that sucks one in, possessing thatrare ability of managing tosound complex and fluid whilst eschewing anyfeelings of pomposity or sterility - in full force Three Trapped Tigers feelboth gracefully intelligent and wildly primal, gargantuan yet melodic.
It's been five years since their debut studioalbum, "Route One or Die", came out. It has been these intervening years thathave molded the new record, through a combination of touring and liveexperiences (playing with the likes ofDeftonesandDillinger Escape Plan), as wellas a rich and impressive series of collaborations and personal projects thathave augmented the group's palate. Thegroup worked withBrian EnoandKarl HydeofUnderworld, using Brian's "Oblique Strategies" during the writing stages of 'SilentEarthling', something that proved an invaluable way of forcing the group outoftheir comfort zones. Through Brian they also performed at Punkt Festival inNorway and played an improvised collaboration gig in Oslo with their synth heroStåle StorløkkenofSupersilent.Calvert andthe group'sdrummer, Adam Betts, currently form the backbone ofThe Heritage Orchestra, and have recently been part of some trulyunique projects: an electro-orchestral, multi-media reworking of JoyDivisionmaterial; performing the Blade Runner soundtrack; and also performing the Musicof Giorgio Moroder at Sydney Opera House. They also played Goldie's albumTimeless at the Royal Festival Hall. Infact their musical explorations havebeen so vast and varied they've even found themselves working with the likes ofRoots Manuva, Skepta and JME. Keyboard player Tom Rogerson has even taken theBrianEno connection to the next level and acollaborative album with Brian Eno is due later this year.
However, as impressive as their work outside ofthe band is, it's where it has led them to on this record where it's impact canreally be felt: shimmering sci-fi explorations; rich cinematic landscapes;pulsingelectronics; mammoth riffs and pounding drums."Some of the tunes are quite aggressive, some are poignant, some arejust dumb, rocking fun... I guess we have tried to refine our sound whilstkeeping itvital and exciting."Calvert says when trying to pinpoint someof the developments the band have taken, with Rogerson adding,"Matt has produced and mixed quite a fewrecords in the intervening years,and his production chops are much stronger,so we've ended up with tracks which are far more sonically detailed thanpreviously, which means it's all a bit more Technicolor! when I listen to it, Istill thinkthat we don't really sound like anyone else - even if it's anunholy jumble of all of our tastes - which is as good a reason as any to makemusic. "Some of the most noticeable developments can be foundthrough theduality of refinement and expansion; here we have less blaring noise and moremelody, deep-set grooves, unshakable hooks and much more electronics. On thetitle-track they nod subtly toDeath Grips via Hudson Mohawke; on 'Engrams'they employ a sort of quasi-jungle salvos; 'Kraken' takes on a poundingdoom-laden tone; whilst 'Hemisphere' sees them ditch guitars altogether tocreatesomething cinematic in scope, infused with roomy keyboards, mechanicaldrums and glistening flashes of synth that somehow feel both emotionally richand warm, yet also cold, dystopian and eerie ' like allthe best sci-fi films.
If Three Trapped Tigers have managed acontinuation of their sense of personal tone and character ' which they have 'then another aspect that they have brought with them on this album is thepalpablefeeling of 'where next?' Silent Earthling is a record that makespredicting their next stop somewhat impossible, a sentiment that Calvertechoes,"There are still some ideas andambitions we have for oursound that we haven't yet explored. I think we wouldlike to keep the ball rolling and be more prolific so that we can really pushour potential."
"Silent Earthling" will arrive on special editiondigipak CD, Gatefold 2LP + CD (with etching) & digital download. You canpre-order the physical formats, along with a limited signed art print at thenewlylaunched Superball Music UK store here:https://superball.tmstor.es
The band has also announced UK tour dates tocelebrate the album's release, and the full list of shows can be found below:
17thApril' Hug and Pint, Glasgow
18thApril' Think Tank, Newcastle
19thApril' Fibbers, York
20thApril' Buyers Club, Liverpool
21stApril' Deaf Institute, Manchester
22ndApril' Bodega, Nottingham
23rdApril' Rainbow, Birmingham
25thApril' Purple, Reading
26thApril' Boileroom, Guildford
28thApril' Scala, London
30thApril' Craufurd Arms, MiltonKeynes
2ndMay' The Lantern, Bristol
3rdMay' The Haunt, Brighton
9thMay' Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
10thMay' Portland Arms, Cambridge
Three Trapped Tigers Are:
Matt Calvert ' Guitar & Keys
Tom Rogerson - Keys
Adam Betts - Drums
