Tigercide is a duo that fill a void you didn't realise you had. We all love a good bit of dark wave, synthpop, or Gothic chillout but often these genres tend to become too upbeat, too slow, or the vocals tend to drag you away from relaxation with most acts. Something never quite balances. In Tigercide we find a beautiful missing puzzle piece that combines all of these wonderful genres in to a truly soothing and touching experience that we always knew was out there somewhere and I'm glad to have finally heard it!
'The Remedy' is a fantastic track to chose to remix. The melody is that which soothes a depressed heart and yet the beat keeps your attention solid with well placed percussion and synths - in an almost gamma wave sort of feel, they both keep you in the moment. The vocals? Ethereal, smooth, and luxurious with that edge of pain that hits a deeply relatable place. I always find it interesting to see how a band or artist attempts to get the most out of their work. With 'Remedy' Tigercide have recruited quite the collection of interesting artists to remix the track, with roughly one remix being released every few weeks.
There are five more yet to be released on their YouTube channel; The two that are already released will be the focus of this review, especially the remix by John Bechdel of Ministry, Fear Factory, and Killing Joke.
Los Angeles-based darkwave act, Tigercide has announced the release of The Remedy Remixes: a collection of re-envisioned tracks from Tigercide's Remedy EP. With the first track, "Remedy" (Album Mix), the drum of a betrayed heart pulses in your ears. Shexist sings the listener to terms, with the notes of a subdued finality. The synths cry in the background and remind you to breathe. A song that can only prepare you for the death of your ego.
The Remedy album was a special release, an incredibly personal look into a journey filled with beauty and pain; the burden of almost losing it all but somehow keeping it together, clawing through adversity. The duo of Shexist and St Brendan reach to the sky and obtain its healing sound. Together through heartache and sheer will they are a force of change.
The Remedy Remixes are a catalogue of moods smuggled from every corner of the darkened overgrowth. Industrial beasts like those of John Bechdel of Ministry rip right into you while DJ Odeed wobbles the blood flow, nods the head, and beats the heart. The blending of retro dance feels, and hard edge cuts leave the listener sweating on the floor.
About The Remixers:
The Remedy Remixes is an eclectic compilation of remixes following the release of Tigercide’s 2019 Remedy EP’. Featuring Remixes from Artists Including: Delta City (UK Synthwave) John Bechdel (Ministry, Fear Factory, Killing Joke) Palanese Summer (Dark Psy) Trace Amount (Industrial / EBM) Josex (Breakbeat) and Subtle Smiles (Indie-Electronic) & DJ Odeed (Hip-Hop).
Tigercide and their collaborators run through the darkness, torches ablaze to deliver the Remedy Remixes LP. An intense fire that spreads and consumes all in its path. These are the efforts of unbreakable artistry, every track a new dialog of a classic tale.
Great minds think alike, they also produce exceptional records. The full spectrum of dark genres is on display in this collaboration. Each artist brings a banger to the table, and there’s plenty to go around.
"Tigercide presents that mesmerizing trip-hop aura from start to finish and breathy, dreamlike vocals make up the delicate chorus."- BuzzMusic Beneath the bright lights and beyond the velvet ropes of Hollywood lies a different Southern California: a desolate land filled with darkness, punctuated by unrealized dreams, and broken down with anguished hearts. Tigercide, formed a decade ago in LA, gives musical form to this landscape with the ethereal, melancholic vocals of Shexist and the exotic, shadowy, and balanced beats of St. Brendan.
The post-punk of bands like Joy Division and New Order embodied a de-industrializing Manchester. The Bristol sound of Massive Attack and Portishead gave voice to the multicultural grittiness of their city. So too does the darkwave trip-hop of Tigercide capture the ethos of Angelenos anxious about their future. In a city characterized by soaring rents, temperatures, and population, can there be any more California dreaming? Most recently, Tigercide appeared on the compilation, Goth Adjacent presents: Compilation Volume 1 - Omnium Gatherum which is available on Bandcamp HERE: https://bit.ly/3NGhfpw
STOP A MOMENT!
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Review
The opening to this article covers a lot of the deep sensation this track weaves as you listen. Those weighty synths massage your diaphragm as Shexist's vocals smooth out the edges of your mind, the whole track exudes both sorrow and relaxation. The lyrics (or at least my interpretation of) speak of both letting go of - and yet still living in the past, lighting matches, burning bridges, and moving on no matter the pain. Something I think we can all relate to. Utterly enthralling all round.
Who doesn't love a bit or synth or retro wave? This Delta City remix hits home straight away with those signature keys, synth pulses, and electric drums. Interestingly there is a backing vocal addition that really builds emphasis for the original vocals.
The way this has been mixed breathes a higher BPM energy that simultaneously complements the original vocals in to something clearer, crisper, and more powerful, and also manages to throw the pace through a completely new dance worthy and unforgettable loop.
If this isn't one of the most idyllic tracks for long night drives then I'm not sure what is. There is a lot of passion, emotion, and dedication poured in to this remix bringing it to new and ever more enjoyable heights!
Most recently to be released was John Bechdel's remix. This version packs in a sense of fear, anxiety, and darkness the likes of which a cyberpunk thriller movie would be proud. It is a subtle yet effective way of altering the track in to something a bit more sinister. As the track progresses we have more energetic loops and synths adding spice to the tempo and overall feel of prevailing darkness taking hold. The synths build and convert the track in to something far more science fiction with a lot of subtle changes and additions to appreciate that really add to the replay value of this remix.
Conclusion
With the original track and the two remixes released so far, Tigercide have already firmly planted the flag of excitement and interest in an incredible EP.
I genuinely look forward to each release for this and have already added these three tracks to my driving playlist.
There will no doubt be something absolutely everyone can truly enjoy by the end of the final release and I will no doubt keep a watchful eye on Tigercide releases in future!
Thank you!
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