Heroin in Tahiti: "Ex-Giants On Dope"

Songs about the Polynesian drug ring rarely catch on, which is why Heroin in Tahiti subvert all expectations by playing spiky instrumentals instead of steel drums, hula, or raps about blowing away mules. Made of two Italians, Heroin in Tahiti practice “spaghetti wasteland,” their own brand of crossed TV signals, cowboy guitar, and noises made for islands with volcanic black sand beaches. Valerio Mattioli and Francesco De Figuereido are based in Rome, but on the basis of this preview they could be playing live on the Costa Concordia, entertaining the scuba teams as they tap against cabins checking for life, and fineries.

Their album Death Surf drops next month, and “Ex-Giants On Dope” is one of three tasters currently streaming on the Heroin in Tahiti Bandcamp. In one second it’s clear this is not tourist-friendly grass skirts: industrial electronica broods and glows like The Terminator, eventually branching into manipulated swamp music; the kind of thing Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks got subjected to while disguised as hippies in Dragnet. As guitars twang over sharpened machinery the whole thing ebbs with not quite the oxygen-robbing high of the brown stuff, but definitely the qualities of one very muggy trip. No sign of any giants or any noises considered dope, but still recommended for people who enjoy stargazing while sprawled on the bonnet of their car (NB: car must be parked in an operating scrapyard).