In the absence of a bass guitar, Papier Tigre's sound is built around pounding tribal drums that propel each song forward with ruthless efficiency. This urgency is underlined by the distinctive and insistent vocals of Eric, his strained yelps acting as a rallying cry to the guitars, which occupy the space between voice and drums and make it their own. Whether working together or against each other, the interplay between the two instruments is explosive. Brittle melodies seemingly scrap with vicious riffs, before the two suddenly come together to deliver the coup de grace. This is art punk, but at it's most primal. Papier Tigre understands that a song being intelligent and complex need not exclude it from having a raw, danceable energy. Their music firmly entrenched in the tradition of inventive, challenging punk - think Fugazi, Q and Not U, The Ex - yet whilst Papier Tigre have drawn influence from these bands, they have a style and delivery all of their own. The mode of communication is rooted firmly in the contemporary; rhythmically and vocally these songs recall the mutant, angular disco of Chinese Stars or Liars.