Like the scattered locations of its members, Miniature Tigers draws influences from all over the map, but if their sound does have one consistency, it’s singer/composer Charlie Brand’s infatuation with the sixties. These retro sensibilities and bright melodies are filtered through a modern approach to arranging that reminiscent of New York heavyweights Animal Collective and Grizzly Bear. "Fortress", produced mostly by Morning Bender’s Chris Chu, is a charming collection of pop numbers that musically treads the same whimsical pathways as their previous recordings. The band haven’t lost their ear for melody, though lyrically ‘Fortress’ throws in the occasion shade of black. Opening with a trilogy of sorts, ‘Mansion of Misery’, ‘Rock & Roll Mountain’ and ‘Dark Tower’ all use secured buildings and cordoned off dwellings as metaphors for Charlie’s own feelings of loneliness back west. Elsewhere on the record, garage rock numbers like ‘Japanese Woman’ keep things sounding fresh, while ‘Gold Skull’ is a complete departure from the band’s recognised style, leaning towards a more synthetic production courtesy of electronic group Neon Indian. – See them live at Music Hall of Williamsburg on 10.19 – Dean Van Nguyen
