Introducing: Tin Lion
Australian electronic music has been ruled by the likes of Cut Copy and The Presets for quite sometime, but they’ll soon be joined - or even surpassed by - Australian electro artist, Tin Lion.
Tin Lion, moniker of the Melbourne-based Jesse Fultone (what is it with all this Melbourne talent?!), who’s joined by percussionist Jordan Garuccio for live performances, sounds like something straight out of DFA Records - James Murphy’s renowned label, whose roster includes the perfect blend of electronic and rock music with bands like The Rapture, Hot Chip, Holy Ghost!, and of course - LCD Soundsystem.
I believe that Tin Lion is truly the reincarnation of the late LCD Soundsystem - and this is coming from a true die-hard fan (I may have casually cried while streaming their final show at Madison Square Garden…). Is it just a coincidence that just as the band responsible for some of indie rock’s biggest hits (“All My Friends”, “Daft Punk Is Playing At My House”, and “Losing My Edge”, just to name a few) and greatest live performances (seeing them at New York City’s Terminal 5 and Bonnaroo back in 2010 was utterly mind-blowing) breaks up and releases a documentary, these guys pop up, seemingly out of nowhere? The only explanation is that this is a miracle from the indie rock gods!
All kidding aside, Tin Lion produce some of the most infectious blend of electronic and rock that I’ve ever heard. With obvious New York disco, funk, and Talking Heads influence, Jesse creates a masterpiece out of everything he touches. And the music is multi-functional: it suits just lounging around, can incite a dance party, and can be the perfect soundtrack to a long, summer drive. Or a long winter drive. It’s just got the multi-purposeful sound that isn’t too common these days.
The newly released “Indigo” is without a doubt Tin Lion’s greatest track, as it sounds like something that would be found on LCD’s Sound Of Silver - possibly my favorite album - with its cowbell-lead rhythm, Jesse’s sing-talking, and a groovin’ bassline that just makes you wanna get up and dance. The cowbell gives the track a similar post-punk, acid house feel as The Rapture’s biggest hit, “House Of Jealous Lovers”, though Jesse’s voice is a bit more polished than that of Luke Jenner’s voice, giving it a different feel, even with the similar groove. Hopefully “Indigo” will push Tin Lion to similar electro-rock legend status as The Rapture and LCD Soundsystem.
Even with the constant comparison to the great James Murphy & co., Jesse’s music is truly his own, as he adds many of his own elements to his music. For one thing, the mid-song magical guitar solo in “Indigo” isn’t something you’d find in anything LCD Soundsystem. On a similar note, Tin Lion production is much simpler, spacier, and less layered, making their music more on the electronic/dance side of the spectrum, as opposed to LCD Soundsystem’s grouping with more indie rock acts.
Definitely keep an eye on these guys, as they’re charting at #1 on Triple J Unearthed - an impressive feat on its own, but even more so for these considering the fact that Tin Lion was only founded less than a year ago! In the meantime, you can stream and download a couple of highlights below.
Connect with Tin Lion: Facebook | Last.fm | Bandcamp | Soundcloud
