‘Safe In Words’ is the debut EP from Staffordshire based PAPER TIGERS, and despite the fact that it’s relentlessly glossy and has more than a bit of the ‘Dirt’ era KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES about it, it’s great, and an essential listen for any that are into bands of that ilk.
Starting off the EP with an echoey guitar opening reminisce of much of the South Wales pop-rock scene of late, ‘Summer On Blossom Street’ sees the band deliver the slick vocals and carefully assembled instrumentation that features throughout the EP’s four tracks. ‘Safe In Words’ is firmly rooted in the mid-tempo, regularly culminating in a thrusting chorus with elongated whooaaaas aplenty, and it’s a great invitation for catching the band live.
Despite the fact that you’ll probably able to name a few bands that PAPER TIGERS remind you of within the first minute or so, that doesn’t make them bad or take away from the EP’s quality by any stretch of the imagination. Each track is instantly enjoyable, and for those that will identify with the influences on display, you’ll be more than at home. Each track delivers a dose of great and well executed “boys with guitars” pop rock, and much as that might be off-putting for some, it’s well worth a listen.
‘Safe In Words’ is right up there with the stronger releases of an admittedly fairly saturated genre in recent memory, and though there’s no reinventing of the wheel here, it’s pretty likely that if you’re grabbed in the first few moments, you’ll happily listen right through to the end. If the band can deliver the tracks live like they have on record here, you’ll be hearing much, much more from them this year.
TOM AYLOTT