How many people live in Taranaki that aren’t in really great bands? Asking because I’ve just been introduced to Twin Tiger (The Twin Tiger?), a four piece combo from New Plymouth who are extending my increasing appreciation for the talent pouring out of one of my favouritest regions of these islands. Comprising Craig Jones on vocals and guitar, Codes Hoskin on the keys, Marc Gernhoeffer on drums and Nate Betteridge on bass, they describe themselves as a “band who’s synth-heavy, 80’s inspired pop confidently rests on a dance-ready groove. Laced with plenty of catchy licks and memorable melodies,” and I have to agree.

This new single Sanity is about suddenly realising you’re being dumped, but picking yourself up and walking away without losing your marbles. It’s a really, really catchy tune with a total winner of a chorus that will stick with you long after you’ve moved on with your day and are doing something else entirely unrelated. It’s an absolute monster of a commercially savvy sing-along tune, especially that chorus, anchored by some chocolatey, mellow rhythm section work that adds a nice, lively tempo and a sweet groovy danceable beat. Bass works in great with the drums for a really tight cohesion.

I love the staccato, reggae/ska influenced guitar work. Dripping with Chorus effect and some nicely weighted reverb, the blend of the tone of the gat and the meltingly mellow and exquisitely placed major seventh chords I felt more than heard, and the orchestration is an absolute indie lover’s whimsical dream number. It’s a pop song from the type of band that has never been pigeon-holed. I like that, because it means their next one could be utterly unlike this. So many bands back in my 80s era were good at that: bands like the Bluebells, the Bangles, Orange Juice, Then Jericho, China Crisis, James, and on and on. These guys are maybe a bit influenced by the era, but they’ve managed to make their sound very much a today sound.

Whoooaaaa, I just realised that chorus is still going through my brain! Well played those chaps. I couldn’t do more than say that there’s a guitar-pop indie hit here. There’s nothing I should try to compare this with. It’s very, very laid back yet lively enough to dance to. The instrumentation is on point; Craig‘s vocals are a highly competent tenor with a power he keeps a rein on as the song develops, and then a surprise comes with a bitter middle eight in which full throat is unleashed with a strategic intelligence. Very nicely planned.

This would work as a mechanical licenced piece, on the likes of soundtracks or TV ads. It should be distributed to all types of radio stations, as it suits the community stations, commercial and student stations. UK indie radio will flip for this so I hope their distributor/marketing team gets them out everywhere. Needless to say this will go down massively live, and Craig needs to get audience participation for that chorus. Personal listening will work while working out, running or a walk, commuting, cooking at a barbie gathering, or any house party. Good lord, anything! This really is a one size fits all song. Very well done indeed.

It’s on general release on the Spotty Fly on the 14th, Valentine’s Day of course. The irony of it being a break-up song is not lost on me. Truly enjoyable, very commercially viable but not a plastic manufactured song. This is going straight onto Flash-Trax’s Spotty Fly when it’s available. Twin Tiger, Sanity. Get it.

“I’m takin’ back, takin’ back, takin’ back, takin’ back my Sanity.” Yes – still singing it to myself!