Bradley’s Mountain Tiger Wolf is basically an indie techno loop of random pop culture highlights since 1972.  Hollow ‘80s mega rock is combined with recognizable bass riffs from Stevie Wonder’s album Talking Book. Other tracks have Queen melodies layered with an xylophone and digital Pac-Man zaps. Varying from ballads, lullabies to rave techno, Bradley’s approach is similar to the intentionally particular and exposed style of Sufjan Stevens. Unresolved metaphors like, “It makes it hard to run / You have the weight now / You feel everyone”  are nearly impossible not to like, though I’m often suspicious as to why.  Others are a tad grim, but could either bring relief or hyperventilation, like “All the lines we crossed were grey / All the days and nights the same.”  Despite some haphazard combinations, most tracks are tastefully mixed and nostalgically familiar.

Published in Volume 64, Number 22 of The Uniter (March 11, 2010)