REVIEW: Romance of the Young Tigers/Marie EP

...while the disc claims itself an EP, the Marie EP by Romance of the Young Tigers runs longer than many so-called albums these days. Clocking in at over 30 minutes, it's two tracks might have just as easily been released as two individual EPs. However, the listing of simply Part 1 and Part 2 suggest a necessity for their pairing. Recorded last fall in a single live session, the Marie EP is a haunting, inspiring work. Released in limited edition boxes or burlap bags (we got the burlap), the obtuse packaging merely hints at the mysteries within...

...While Romance of the Young Tigers may be a polarizing force within the Dayton music scene, it would be difficult to dispute that they are a singular presence. Although the band draws numerous comparisons to various post-rock outfits, the glaring absence of any drums/percussion would set them firmly outside of that genre. Drawing more from the ambient work of Brian Eno and electronic composers that defined the late-70s NYC art music scene, ROTYT do not offer easily consumable chunks for the modern listener. Surely, their work is challenging and easily confounding. However, for the focused listener the EP is filled with subdued, reflective passages juxtaposed with eerie shards of electronic manipulations. While the disc is more than most will be able to digest, it certainly begs further investigation...

You can purchase the disc through the band here.