Defying all expectations of quality control, the sixth single from Audenshaw's Emma's House Recordings beautifully ups the ante in the more orthodox endeavours of Germany's Tuna. More accessible in tone and lacking the whimisical drone of previous EP's, the mood is one of pure glacial pop romanticism a la Smiths tinged with the Sugarcubes' soul-caressing vocals.
City Life July 2001
This debut from the German band Tuna is extremely promising. Hosted by Manchester's Emma's House label, the sound is a combination of Heavenly and early Stereolab. It's difficult to tell why the single is called 'Tiny Tiger' though - because the lyrics, although soft an effective in contrast to the rocking guitars, are slightly inaudible. But perhaps that's the desired effect?
Record Collector - September 2001
And the ever-marching bandwagon of Emma's House Recordings just keeps rolling on. Label release number nine sees the debut recording for Tuna. Again limited to 200 pressings and housed in hand made sleeves with stencilled jacket. Based in Siegen, this four piece bands debut bodes well for the future. 'Graveyard' sees Katha's vocals under threat at being left behind by some serious Wedding Present style guitar strumming. A feisty poppified ditty in the best tradition of Sarah records regulars Heavenly, and sounding as cute as a button with it. 'Tiger' the lead track is in parts a more relaxed affair though it does have its momentary lapses to sonic eruptions. Courting with a touch of prime Ride and possessing the kind of cut and thrust charm of My Bloody Valentine in so far as their ability to up the ante at any given time but without soaring to white out oblivion, sort of like a rollercoaster ride with brake pedals and gear changes.
Losingtoday.com - October 2001
Tuna are from Seigen in Germany and formed in 1998, feature Katha on guitar and vocals ; Markus on guitar ; Falko on bass and Denis on drums. 'Tiny Tiger', their debut single, has been released in a limited edition 7" vinyl pressing of 200 copies on the Manchester singles label, Emma's House.The title track and its B side 'Graveyard' were both taken from a demo,and inevitably, as a result, the slightly unpolished production values of their recording do not quite match up or gel with the group's gilted sound.Both songs are, however, played with an impressive and passionate sense of mood, emotion and energy. The four piece band list Slowdive amongst their influences, and the epic 'Tiny Tiger' is reminiscent with its ethereal vocals; crinkling guitars and dreamy sound of both that early nineties group, and also other shoegazing acts from the same era such as Lush, the Cranes and the Cocteau Twins.'Graveyard, however, finds Tuna tunnelling back further still into musical history and in contrast shows off another completely different side to the band. 'Graveyard', like 'Tiny Tiger', bounces clean cut guitarwork against discordance, but jangly and poppy and short and straight to the point, instead recalls Sarah and Subway Records era artists such as Heavenly and the Flatmates with its snappy whimsicality. While it remains to be seen which of these two radically differing paths Tuna may ultimately decide to focus on, this is a convincing debut by an accomplished and strong act.
John Clarkson - January 2002
