No Fantasy Required

by 
AlbumMar 04 / 201611 songs, 49m 55s
Electropop Tech House
Noteable

Canadian producer Tiga is one of dance music’s great curators, feted as much for his sleek tunes as for his taste-making compilations. His third album takes cues from both outlets, doubling as a mix of fresh sounds and a cohesive whole. “Make Me Fall in Love” wraps warped bass and phased percussion into a hypnotic electro banger, while “3 Rules” nails his left-field humour. The lush techno of “Plush” and surreal pulse of “Bugatti” make for some of the best singles of his career.

On March 4th, Montreal recording artist Tiga will release his third album No Fantasy Required. There’s always been a fertile creative tension at the heart of Tiga’s music: on the one hand he’s the underground techno don, on the other, there’s a pop sensibility that enables him to write great songs. It’s this duality that makes him one of electronic music’s most engaging characters. He’s about as far from your faceless techno DJ as it’s possible to get. In his illustrious career, he’s remixed LCD Soundsystem, Depeche Mode, Coldcut, The XX and Moby, among many others. He has used his Turbo label to break new acts like Duke Dumont, Chromeo, Gesaffelstein and Boyz Noize. In addition, he has frequently collaborated with luminaries such as James Murphy, Pusha T and, on No Fantasy Required, Hudson Mohawke and Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters. Now, working with key producer Matthew Dear, and Finnish wizard Jori Hulkkonen (who also performs with him live), Tiga has made a record on which he says he feels “more honest, open and playful.” No Fantasy Required is a collection of inspired songs that just happen to be delivered via visceral dance music. It’s an album with songs and real character, one also packed with instant bangers. No fantasy is required both because this is an honest, open, playful record and also because it provides all the fantasy you could need.

6.2 / 10

Canadian rave pioneer Tiga Sontag’s fidgety new album features three tracks co-produced by Matthew Dear and a collaboration with Hudson Mohawke.

7 / 10

Third time lucky as Tiga's fantasies become reality.

Released while the artist was declaring that when it comes to albums, "they don't even matter to me anymore," Tiga's No Fantasy Required is a jumbled mix, featuring some previous singles like 2011's "Plush" and his 2014 collaboration with Pusha T, "Bugatti," although the GOOD Music MC's name has fallen off the track list.

6 / 10

Although it's been seven years since his last full-length (2009's Ciao!), Tiga hasn't changed much. Dusting off the blueprints from the past...

8 / 10

Cutting-edge clubbing is so passé, maintains Tiga Sontag and his innate shrug on a third album full of yesterday’s tomorrows. Full of the

Techno DJ Tiga’s world-weary aesthete persona is engaging and this album is full of dirty danceable grooves

Album Reviews: Tiga - No Fantasy Required