Tigercity

It's not every day that you find a group of musicians who can straddle the line between the dreamy atmospheres of Ambient Works-era Aphex Twin and the soul pop of Hall & Oates while striving for the arrangement sophistication of Steely Dan. But that's precisely what this Massachusetts-via-Brooklyn quartet does well. Although it seems that underground rock bands everywhere are wallowing in and abusing the already outdated indie-meets-disco trend, Tigercity takes a left turn off the beaten path and leaves the competition behind. The band shows more style, imagination, and sense of the future than the rest of the pack and at least hints at a fresh, distinct sound. Yes, you will hear the all-too-familiar strains of electronic disco that sounds scientifically constructed to get white hipsters to shake their asses. Yes, the obviously derivative handclaps and falsetto vocals jump out at your ears. But Tigercity sounds like it's growing into a voice that will eventually elude easy comparisons. Like the Police and Talking Heads, Tigercity reaches for an amalgamation of familiar elements that coalesces into something altogether new. Their recently released digital-only EP, Pretend Not to Love, suggests that the band might just succeed.