Easy lyrics, intricate music: Meet indie music’s transformed dream poppers, “Miniature Tigers.”

Miniature Tigers

Fortress: Modern Art Records

Fortress begins with bells. The bells are then joined by shells as a distant note carries both sounds right into lead singer Charlie Brand’s hollowed voice: “Thinking about throwing away the key…” If it sounds dimly like the echoed chant that represents many of today’s top indie acts, that’s no mistake. The track, Miniature Tiger’s leadoff “Mansion of Misery” is dream pop formulated replica. Take note of the reverberating guitar, the backup cosmic choir, the free flowing synth and even the short moment of orchestrated catastrophe. It’s similar to the slightly psychedelic jams that are oozing out of speakers nationwide while the listener munches on a shroom. This isn’t just the run-of-the-mill, drug-induced hipster chump-change, but run-of-the-mill, drug-induced hipster gold!

As long as there have been music genres, there have been acts like “Miniature Tigers,” taking a brand of music that has broken the surface and does it justice. Music composed by talented, low profile artists and backed by its notable pioneers, the Tigers seem to stray away from what the media has made indie to be: content with being content. They are students of the art who have noticeably stepped up their game from the folky, ho-hum sound that gently thrust them from the Phoenix music scene in 2006, to full-fledged masters of the music that made the Beatles, Weezer and the Beach Boys famous.

Those who brush away Fortress are missing out on an excellent listen; one that captures the cooky weirdness that is the dream pop sound and uses it to soften the emotionally defensive theme of the album. Momentum begins on “Goldskull,” which combines videogame sound melodies, fluttering harp, standard mid tempo drumming with production by “Neon Indian” brain Alan Palomo (explains the electronic melodies). “Bullfighter Jacket,” is glowing, bouncing, fast-paced number that congregates jovially around a Jerry Lee Lewis inspired dash on the keys. “Egyptian Robe” is the Tiger’s sidewalk performer moment.

Although the band has done a great job, credit must be given to producer Chris Chu (with the exception of “Goldskull”). As a member of indie pop band The Morning Benders, Chu is instrumental in infusing the pop sound into Fortress which sets this album different than the previous Tell It To The Volcano.

The Miniature Tigers are delightfully contradictory. They take these emotionally driven themes about escaping the burden of the heart and express them through a kind, soft noise. To better emulate the heaviness of the premise the bass could have been recorded more upfront and in-your-face. Throughout most of the tracks it is basically nonexistent.

But the Miniature Tigers are different. They have an odd combination of uncomplicatedness and appeal that makes easy-going music like: “Don’t run away/ cause I don’t know where you’re going/ I don’t want to know/ Don’t follow me/ cause I don’t know where I’m going or how long I’ll be.” It is sort of an eerie reflection to reality. Who knows where this album will take the Miniature Tigers? Stardom perhaps? A larger following?  All signs point to up.

Buy the album at our record store on Amazon

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