Review: Mahjongg – The Long Shadow of the Paper Tiger
Mahjongg - The Long Shadow of the Paper Tiger (2010) [K Records] // Grade: C+
Get ready for a musical experience that will get you dancing like a spaz because Mahjongg are back with their fourth album The Long Shadow of the Paper Tiger. The band’s self proclaimed “Chicagotronics” sound (stemming from regional bands using live drumming with electronic drumming) is hard to define because the band likes to keep things free form and play off a variety of influences. They don’t conform to any set rhythmic time in their music which could be a bit disorienting for some. Their live shows are supposed to be killer partly due to being able to create such complex music with a fairly simplistic set up, and that the band goes crazy for their own music, grooving out hard on stage.
The Long Shadow of the Paper Tiger is a different album for the group because it didn’t start out as being written for Mahjongg but rather Waterbabies, an entirely improvised side project of bassist Hunter Husar that is rooted in percussion, improvised noise and tribal-jams. Those tribal beats are most evident on track “Whoop” that mixes in this kind of funk bass back beat interjected with different layering of vocals by the various band members. “Wardance” seems to be inspired by Native drum circle beats but amps up the impact by turning it electric, infusing electro guitar strumming and keyboards with tantric vocals.
“Grooverider Free” is a really interesting track (hitting the 9min mark) mixing lyrical electronic vocals with hyper speed keyboards and an African tribal beat which shifts in the middle of the track into a more industrial sound with awesome uber fast drum & bass beats. While listening to this track it’s hard to believe that it is one singular song instead of being chopped into two (personally favouring the second have of the track). While I found the intermixed tracks “Devry”, “Miami Knights”, and “La Beat” to be rather lack luster, it’s the first song “Gooble” that really sold this album for me. The free flowing variation of beats (switching between tempos) mixes so well with their psyched out vocals (especially the raucous yeah yeah yeahing) and fluttering of improved noises (sax, keyboards). “Gooble” is the track that made me want to see them jam out live.
On the whole, I don’t find The Long Shadow of the Paper Tiger to be a stellar album but with enough tracks that grab you and the impressive way Mahjongg plays with their music, it’s definitely worth a solid listen.
