Le Tigre - Le Tigre

Sat 21st Feb, 2004 in Music Reviews

Remember Bikini Kill and the riot grrrl experience of the 90s?

Well, lead Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill has reinvented her sound in Le Tigre, a bold feminist trio that combines lo-fi synths and happy pop with punk’s attitude and politics. Kathleen Hanna still has it too, her fierce and committed punk vocals put most of her rock and rap contemporaries in the shade. This is one girl-with-attitude who has something to say.

Concentrating on Ms Hanna would be not to do justice to the contribution of Johanna Fateman on the bass and Sadie Benning’s eclectic electronic experimentation within the punk rock genre. In fact, their debut self titled album has been claimed to be ‘more 80s then the 80s’. “I wanted stuff to groove, and wanted people to physically enjoy the music,” she says. “We did some danceable songs in Bikini Kill, and those were always my favourite. So it seemed a natural thing to get into dance music.”

Their self-proclaimed feminist punk electronica begins with the rousing ‘Deceptacon’. Working with drum machines and samplers in additional to more traditional guitar and bass the song is both dance and rock together. The hook driven number has been picked up and remixed by The DFA to much acclaim. Le Tigre prove they can craft a more easy listening song with their feminist ‘Hot Topic’, a dedication to women who have made their mark on the trio. The use of samplers and lo fi keyboards allows Le Tigre to fill out their sound more then most 3 piece bands. This is depth of sound is also evident on ‘Eau D’bedroom Dancing’, ‘Slideshow at Free University’ and ‘Dude. Yr So Crazy’.’What’s Your Take on Cassavetes’ and ‘Phanta’ make heavy use of the drum machine and samplers but never lose that punk grrrl attitude.

Their use of punk electronica with political lyrics remind me of that classic 60s saying, ‘I don’t want to be part of your revolution if I can’t dance’. ‘Let’s Run’ and ‘My My Metrocard’ are more riot grrrl tracks, overflowing with energy and opinionated, jutty lyrics. Dancing shoes for these tracks are required, ‘My My Metrocard’ especially makes you want to pogo all the way to the nearest railway station!

For those of you who enjoy The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Chicks on Speed or 90s riot grrrl punk rock Le Tigre is right up your alley. Their debut album my be three years old, and Le Tigre have released their second album since, but this cd is still fresh and, I feel, the best work Le Tigre have produced.