Strengthened by a story that began in 1978 and that has unfolded along twelve albums, recorded in the studio by eighteen different musicians who have alternated over time, the Tygers of Pan Tang publish a selection of written and recorded songs with "Majors & Minors" over the past thirteen years, drawing on what can be considered the third period of activity of English education. To this modern “Best Of”, also available in three original vinyl editions, some songs have been added so far never released on CD, unreleased live versions and others updated thanks to a new orchestral arrangement. With its abundant hour of duration "Majors & Minors" is a record - published by the Danish Mighty Music - that certainly does not spare itself, starting from its generous playing time. His is a hard rock with rhythms of brilliant simplicity, easy refrains and a stereophonic enthusiasm that further testifies to the beautiful and naive spontaneity that seems to have preserved these tracks, not making them go out of fashion. While there is no lack of a handful of interesting solos or occasionally more punchy rhythms ("Let It Burn"), it is rather the general approach that provides a robust backbone to the career, story and product: the Tygers always appear energetic and inspired, moved. from a hard rock flame so vivid as to overshadow an evident linearity in the sounds and structures. On the other hand, it is certainly not the Pindaric flights that the Whitley Bay quintet is asking themselves: especially good at being themselves and strengthening their stylistic imprint at each exit, the Florentine Iacopo Meille and his travel companions rework with an inspired and intelligent touch the American rock ("She"), the fast heavy of Judas Priest ("Never Give In") and an Aerosmith-like blues ("Glad Rags") that turns into one of the most successful pieces of the whole disk.

Each timid episode in a different territory can be said to be successful: with a mid-tempo that will accompany us more or less from the first to the last minute, the band described by this collection manages to contaminate without selling out, to revive without messing with colours, to draw from different styles and eras - including the sparkling alternative of "Damn You!" - without mimicking and using the tried and tested opening scheme: each song seems to unfold, predictably but never cloying, just a few seconds after the chorus explodes. Each song blooms and flourishes by layering the structure a little, repeating a couple of choruses, twisting viscous on a particularly guessed bassline ("White Lines" is a workhorse, a cheeky classic, perched a notch above everything else) , adding a precious interlude (“Worlds Apart”) that gives the illusion of a broken rhythm or a pleasant diversion. “Majors & Minors” contains fifteen tracks which are formally rather simple, rhythmically monochord and yet all capable of transmitting a positive idea of freshness, immediacy, sincerity. This attitude transforms even the less incisive episodes (such as the negligible triptych "The Devil You Know", "Keeping Me Alive" and "Hot Blooded") into moments that are important in their own way, because they are necessary to define that Adriatic linearity on which this music intends to settle.

The variety of ideas offered by this robust compilation is such that everyone will find a special moment there, in the midst of so much material of excellent quality: with their selection the Tygers Of Pan Tang seem to want to please everyone and they do it track after track with authority, amused, far from looking like a group in disarray that doesn't know what to do. The coherence with which their style is variously declined, but ultimately confirmed by albums published years apart from each other, speaks of a product and a musical reality supported by a linear, convinced artistic direction. superior to personalities, which with the lightness of its notes gives an hour of liquid entertainment, immediately understandable and enjoyable regardless of the year in which you started listening to rock. Characteristics appreciated by the modern consumer, and that a line-up dating back to 1978 has proven to be able to understand and serve with the ease of a contemporary boy band built to satisfy, above all. The result obtained from the assembly of these fifteen gems really seems the result of a successful and generous mix of inexhaustible attitude and technical competence, and as such it can only be greeted positively by a large array of potential, transversal and - why not - even new listeners.



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