‘Looka Looka Looka’ is the cute title of Leeds based garage rock band’s Tiger Island second EP. 
The EP is for me five tracks of all my favourite elements of music blended together that makes my ears smile. I feel like this is a band that I dreamed up-to me this ep really has the perfect mix- vocals that sound like a British version of Kathleen Hanna and Gwen Stefani combined for a start. Then there’s the dash of anger and the sprinkle of sass, with a side order of catchiness that you can’t help but sing along and dance to.
When I mention the similarity to Kathleen Hanna, I’m more talking about Julie Ruin style than Bikini Kill era style- although there is certainly a punk element to the songs, the melodies and electronic touches such as on song ‘Bitter Ends’ are much more akin to that later era of Kathleen Hanna music history.
I have only had to listen to the songs on ‘Looka Looka Looka’ a few times before I found myself absentmindedly singing along particularly to ‘Wait for You’ and ‘Look Around you’ . The band describe the song ‘Look Around you’:
“Look Around You” is a short, sharp injection of angular power-pop, a jagged shriek as you wake up from a bad dream, an amphetamine-fuelled sermon on consumer culture – all packed into less than 3 minutes of relentless boogie.
“Quite literally written in a fever, Look Around You is about the sleazy seductions of modern life – how easy it is to forget your own needs and desires in the barrage of what we’re told to want and be.”
Unsurprisingly (and yet another aspect I love to hear in music I listen to) several of the songs are about feminist issues-including track ‘Bad Women’
Bad Women” is an anthem slice of garage rock that challenges dominant social and media narratives around acceptable female behaviour. Which woman is a good woman? Which woman is a bad woman? And who do these questions really serve?
Singer/guitarist Penny says: “This song came from watching women I know, love and care about seeking to challenge the status quo – to stand up and fight for justice, for their bodies, their children and their lives – and seeing the world try to push them back down and label them without listening to them. It’s an angry song, but it’s hopeful too.”
This EP has been a delight to listen to, and I’m so excited to hear more from this brilliant band.
‘Looka Looka Looka’ is out now and you can get it on your preferred music buying platform.
Find Tiger Island Online on the following places- Facebook/Instagram/Bandcamp
Article written by Hayley Foster da Silva
Keep up to date with all new content on Joyzine via our
Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Mailing List
1 comment