Papier Tigre release their fourth album, The Screw, through Function Records. It follows on from Papier Tigre (2007), The Beginning and End of Now (2008) and Recreation (2012). The band continues to deliver its own brand of Punk, whilst combining elements of experimental music with Pop compositions...

Punk doesn't mean what it used to when I was a lad. Back in the '80s Punk music was kicking: sticking it to authority. Nowadays it just means loud, rather formulaic music (usually with shouty singers who can't really sing). While Papier Tigre can indeed play their instruments and sing quite nicely, this sounded a little watered down to be really classed as Punk.

What they deliver, over 9 songs (41 min, 21 sec) is fairly interesting, even if in places it is jarring to listen to. The strange ringing sound at the start of 'Mood Trials' gave me a feel of what tinnitus must sound like. And I couldn't help feeling that 'A Matter Of Minutes' (with its 9 min, 24 sec run time) was included to pad out the album. It's an instrumental track, with little going on other than constant repeats of the same bar of music, before it moves onto a different bar and repeats that for a while.

Fans of Papier Tigre may grow to love this album, but they're a bit of an acquired taste.

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Nick Smithson