Tiger Blast!

Kitakyushu trio False Alarm return with Tiger Blast!, their ninth studio album and another fine example of a band who, nearly three decades into their career, remain difficult to pin down. Mika Ishikawa's unmistakable vocals and formidable drumming lead the way, alongside Kenji Morita's inventive guitar work and Yumi Tanaka's exuberant bass playing. It's a record full of sharp turns, unexpected melodies and the kind of tightly controlled chaos that False Alarm have made entirely their own. Highlights include the frantic Last Train, the wonderfully peculiar Wrong Button! and the album's beautiful closing piece, After the Rain. There's plenty here for longtime admirers, and perhaps no better introduction for those yet to discover them.