tAngerinecAt – Grief (Digital/CD/Vinyl Album – tAngerinecAt)
tAngerinecAt is a Ukrainian-British duo currently based in Wales. It is a DIY band that spares no effort to make itself known. Zhenia Purpurovsky and Paul Chilton have been active for several years and extensively touring since 2008. “Grief” is their seventh album and contains eight tracks. It comes across as a powerful plea against war, fascism, and inequality, while also reflecting on the mental state of humanity.
Musically, tAngerinecAt is something of a mystery, difficult to fully unravel-which is precisely what makes them so compelling and original. At the forefront is the remarkable, often captivating voice of Zhenia Purpurovsky. The vocals help shape the album’s atmosphere: driven, passionate, and unafraid to call out injustices. He sings in both his native language and English, carrying a tasteful accent that he neither hides nor needs to.
The music itself sometimes leans toward minimalism, and at times is deliberately overshadowed by the vocals, which reinforces the overall mood. It is hard to pin down a single style, as tAngerinecAt blends various influences. I would describe it as a freeform approach drawing from Electro, Ethereal, Ambient, and Experimental music. The songs-generally quite short-exude a dark, somewhat dreamlike quality, though there are also more rhythmic, danceable passages. Certain sound treatments feel raw and metallic, enhancing the album’s atmosphere.
“Grief” is a remarkable work that rewards repeated listening. tAngerinecAt is a band I wholeheartedly support-for both their music and their commitment. (Rating:8).
Listen to: “Fire”:
About tAngerinecAt
tAngerinecAt was formed in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 2008 by Zhenia Purpurovsky and Paul Chilton, who first met in the city in 2001. The duo initially performed under the name Dark Patrick before adopting the tAngerinecAt name in 2014. The band relocated to the UK in 2015 and blends Industrial, Electro, and Folk elements, built around Purpurovsky’s vocals and hurdy-gurdy textures.
tAngerinecAt has released seven albums and toured extensively across Ukraine, the UK, and continental Europe, including appearances at WGT, Tallinn Music Week, and a German tour with Project Pitchfork. “Grief,” a self-released, eight-track album exploring loss and resilience, is the band’s most recent work. Zhenia and Paul discussed the album’s origins in a tAngerinecAt interview on Side-Line.
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
