Three Trapped Tigers at Madame JoJo's - 25th August

Three Trapped Tigers at Madame JoJo's - 25th August

26 August, 2009
by: Gina Louise

Three Trapped Tigers are never far from our thoughts down here at Spoonfed, and have spent many a day basking in the glory of our homepage. However, not everyone has taken a liking to the London based electronica boutfit and they have managed to gain a collection of contrasting reviews in the office, and ith their last singles review sorely branding them as annoying as a 'nokia ring tune on the blink' I'm quite keen to set the record straight.

Coming on a little earlier than expected at Madame Jo Jo's tonight, I'm unsure at first whether the unassuming trio that have just wandered onto stage are the supporting band. Uncommanding and without attitude they don't look much like your ordinary headliner, yet as soon as the first synth explodes from the speakers and the unmistakable sounds invades my ears, I know it's them.  Starting with their newer material, they progress through a relatively short set drawn from their limited back-catalogue linking each song together  to form a mesmerising continuation of flawlessly produced electronic-glitch.

I've never before noticed the inclusion of subtle vocals over the top of TTT's mess of noise, yet as  frontman Tom Rogerson takes to the mic and lets rip an ethereal moan I wonder I ever survived without it. On record it's often hard to concentrate on one aspect of their music, as there is so much going on, but when you see them live that you realise just how many layers of electronics, live instruments and vocals go into each and every Three Trapped Tiger song.

Having not thought much about what kind of performance they would give, I half expect to be watching three guys behind a mixing desk pressing some buttons, which, as their support Gold Panda proved, can actually be quite good. However the live instrumental aspect is superb, and adds a rocky intensity that doesn't come across on their recorded work. Adam Betts in particular is spectacular, setting up fast paced drum rhythms, never missing a beat.

There's a schizophrenic intensity to TTT. One minute their music pulsates with pounding drums and choral guitars and the next it drops into sparse, minimalist noise. Without immaculate timing and great delivery their songs could have fallen a little harshly, especially with the interchanges of volume, yet they manage to pull it off without fault. Their performance of '6' is really intense, and is played with nerve-shredding interspersions of field noises and heavy synths.

Having been incredibly excited to see them, I was worried that perhaps their music wouldn't translate well live, yet I'm overwhelmed with the sheer talent of these guys. I really don't know why someone would give them a bad review, sounding like a cross between Delphic, Aphex Twin and Silver Mount Zion, their music is admittedly an odd mix, but I'm hooked from the very first synth.

Three Trapped Tigers are playing at Vibe Bar on the 2nd September

Check out more London electronica
Check out more London live music

Gina Louise