Nayar

Four years ago Tigerbalm released an album called International Love Affair, a record in love with the possibility of sounds from other places, a trans- continental dance record combining London with Bali, Africa, New Zealand, Brazil and Morocco- house music and global sounds jammed together in a completely organic sounding way by Tigerbalm (Rose Robinson). Apart from anything else, it was a massively fun album. Riad De Lister sounds like Tom Tom Club pitching up at a 21st century basement party in Dalston. 

Riad De Lister

A remix album followed with new versions by a slew of artists including The Emperor Machine taking on Riad De Lister and then by way of return Tigerbalm remixed The Emperor Machine on an EP of tracks from his Island Boogie album (that also included a pair of Hardway Bros remixes). Tigerbalm's remix of La Cassette with Severine Mouletin on vocals, is day glo, sci fi/ Afro- pop, dub disco. Impossible not to enjoy. 

La Cassette (Tigerbalm Remix)

Between that release and this autumn I lost touch with Tigerbalm's music but found it again recently. By happy coincidence Tigerbalm released an album in June this year, Bubblegum Discos, that opens with this infectious and vibrant piece of futuristic Latin/ synth pop, Nayar (recorded with Napoli resident Giorgio Lopez). 

Nayar originally out as a single in July 2025 and was followed by two more singles- Pura Vida and then Coco Makako. Those and the rest of Bubblegum Discos can be heard/ bought here. 

La Cassette

I missed The Emperor Machine's album that came out earlier this year, the nine song Island Boogie that is turning into an autumnal treat (it came out in July), vintage synths sounds, dub space, electro- disco, some early 80s punk- funk, generally good vibes all round.  As a result of missing the album I also missed a remix EP that came out in September where frequent Bagging Area visitors Hardway Bros provide two remakes of Wanna Pop With You, one a remix and one a dub. The cherry on the top of this particular pie though is the Tigerbalm remix of  La Cassette, the French language vocals courtesy of Severine Mouletin cut up and re- arranged, the bass throbbing like it's come directly from early 80s Manhattan and whooshing sounds adding a dub sci fi edge. It's brilliant, life affirming stuff. You can get it all here. 

Tigerbalm's International Love Affair was one of 2022's treats, a stew of global, dub and disco sounds aimed at the feet. The album was followed by a hefty remix package in 2023 which included a remix and a dub mix of Riad De Lister by The Emperor Machine where Rose Robinson (Tigerbalm) is sent spinning back to the proto house grooves of the mid 80s. The Special Extended Vocal Mix is a squelchy pleasure.