Greece might not be generally associated with brooding indie with new wave leanings, especially in the UK, where the country’s economic turmoil and political unrest has dominated news headlines and their music is represented by Eurovision entries. But Tango With Lions have a sound that sits comfortably alongside contemporary indie acts.
The album is spacious, dark in a brooding post-punk inspired way, atmospherics reminiscent of Joy Division and the lineage of bands that can be traced via Interpol, Editors and The Organ (the latter not least of all on account of the female vocals courtesy of Katerina Papachristou). At times dreamy, at times surging, at others soaring, ‘A Long Walk’ is textured and dynamic, with quietly ponderous moments and introversion contrasting with crescendos and paranoia.
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The title track is gloriously mournful, a trumpet bringing a sepia tint to the country-tinged new wave sound which finds Kat lonely and pining. ‘News’ is tense, the reverby guitars interweaving tautly between one another. ‘Obituary’ laments the inevitability of death and ‘the way time takes your life’ over a sad piano, while ‘Over the Neon Lights’ brings a late night smooth and vaguely jazz vibe.
Diverse yet clearly focussed and presenting a band with a strong sense of identity, ‘A Long Walk’ is an accomplished and ultimately fulfilling album.
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