Handsome Tiger shakes the foundation with new LP
By Alec Hummel
For the last few decades, west coast festival culture has actively engaged in the coalescing the energy of rap and hip hop with the forward thinking elements of bass music. From Symbiosis and Emissions, to Shambhala, Bass Coast, The Untz and WhatTheFestival (RIP) there has for many years been an element of street culture being represented in the woods.
Handsome Tiger is a favorite in the BC and PNW communities. His recent LP "Foundations" is a testament to his pursuit of crafting a unique sound that blends Bass music and Rap production.
You may recognize the name as he is frequently dropping tasteful mixes on his Soundcloud that have proven to be as fun as they are unique.
On this record moody melodic elements sit atop powerful pumping low end while vocal cuts and pads use call and response to weave back and forth.
The title track Foundations issues a reminder to the listener of our duty to "Shake the Foundations", an earnest call to action early in the record.
The classic halftime boom-bap drum beat is put to great use throughout this record but stays fresh as it evolves and shakes throughout. This release is far from one note on another system. The energy picks up with a world music/breaks hybrid drum beat that gives way to a slower trap influenced drop, complete with screaming flutes and satisfying pluck and percussion pieces. The next track "7VEN" starts in a way that reminds us of older Bonobo before transitioning into a cheeky dancehall cut. Perfect for everything from a road trip to meditation, yoga and self-care days around the house, we've got this album on repeat while we get shit done. Keep your eyes on HANDSOME TIGER as its clear he is here to stay
Our favorites tunes: "LIFT THE VEIL" and "ENTHRALL"
If you've never had the chance to get up to Shambhala, this record is a great place to start as Handsome Tiger has had the pleasure of playing on the Grove a number of times. With such a versatile sound and engaging energy, we could see him playing this style in the heat of the day at the Living Room as well, offering the vibes to the festival goers congregating at the river to keep cool.
BC has been a mecca for low end centric bass music in recent years with artists like Mythm, The Librarian, Leland River, Shiny Things, Michael Redd, and one of our personal favorites: Goopsteppa calling the province home.
Written by : Alec Hummel
Written by : Alec Hummel
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