Review: Tigerbalm - Bubblegum Discos (Ubiquity Records)

Ubiquity Records' gets all fruity with Tigerbalm's second solo album at the 'Bubblegum Discos'!

You'll recall Tigerbalm's 'Nayar' (with Giorgio Lopez) from last year (see review HERE) but we are now four years on from the release of her acclaimed, outward-looking debut solo album, 'International Love Affair' so it's about time we had studio album number two, the thrillingly impressive and kaleidoscopic 'Bubblegum Discos'.

Prepare yourself for "Tigerbalm’s interpretations of two of her most cherished musical inspirations – Brazilian musical culture, and vintage dancefloor workouts from the African continent – infused with nods to Italo-disco, proto-house, soca and the fusion work of Jasper Van’t Hof" - he of 'Pili Pili - Selected Works 1984-2002 (See review HERE).

And whilst we're very much in that nu-disco fusion, the album can be split into South America and African continental groove. 

And 'Diga Me'! If 'Diga Me', featuring regular vocalist Joy Tyson / co-produced by Michele Charivarini, doesn't get the dancefloor moving in a disco rush for the dancefloor, there's no hope - it's a carnival dream with Flora Purim-esque cat suite and whistles.

And talking Airto/Purim et al - get Cuíca's out for the "samba-disco colour of ‘Vera En Paraty’, a brilliantly breezy and life-affirming affair fronted by vocalist Melodie Correira" whilst Tigerbalm (aka Rose Robinson) takes to the vocals on the proper Italo-synth'd up Bubblegum of 'Coco Makako' which is a bit of an ear worm grower.

'Pura Vida' picks up on the  Pura Vida sound of GUTS (see HERE) and who could resist Afriquoi performer Andre Espeut vocals in Lingala (the creole-like language of the Democratic Republic of Congo) and returning for percussion-rich album closer ‘Conga’, a thrillingly heavyweight fusion of Afro-centric disco rhythms, weighty dub disco bass and far-sighted flashes of synthesised colour.

'Do Da Soca' and 'Afro-Diso' complete this album and whilst it's miles away from some of the early releases on Ubiquity (and indeed The Flying Mojito Bros. - see review HERE) what they all have an upbeat and dancefloor craving attitude; and we can all do with some of that to chew on!

BUY LINK /PRE-ORDER: Bubblegum Discos | Tigerbalm

 

Artist: Tigerbalm

Title: Bubblegum Discos 
Release date: 19th June, 2026
Label : Ubiquity Records
Catalog Number : TBC
Format :  Vinyl LP / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Tigerbalm with Giorgio Lopez - Nayar (Ubiquity Records)

Ubiquity Records take on Tigerbalm as they reel under the tango, bango, mango, commando, wango tropical disco madness of 'Nayar'.

You'll remember Tigerbalm's album 'Profunda Alma'  on Razor-N-Tape that came out at the end of last year (see review HERE) as Nicola Robinson unleashed her Afro-Latin obession on the dancefloor

Ubiquity have previously released Tigerbalm's 'International Love Affair' album that attracted some name remixers like Chico Mann, Daniele Baldelli, Emperor Machine and Bustin' Loose (aka Tom Lilly at the Disco Express - see interview HERE) so they should know what they've let themselves in for?

But I'm not sure even Tigerbalm herself had some idea as our Londoner has caught the Italo-synth-wave house revival teaming up with Naples' Giorgio Lopez (like 'Mystic Jungle' see review HERE) with some J-pop vocal chorus.

Known for her "kaleidoscope of global influences", I'm not sure the remixes by Elado (turns up the synths), Bernado Pinheiro (adds some atmospheric Latin percussion from the rainforest, that could have gone more dubby) and Piek (mainroom Spanish house with disco lazers)

We're told this is a mere taster for Tigerbalm's next album, 'Bubblegum Discos' that's due out next years so we're likely to have these 4 versions of 'Mango-Bango' disco all summer long. 

BUY LINK: Nayar | Tigerbalm

Artist: Tigerbalm with Georgio Lopez

Title: Nayar
Release date: 23rd July, 2025
Label : Ubiquity Records
Catalog Number : TBC
Format :  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Tigerbalm - Profunda Alma (Razor-N-Tape)

This isn't the pain relief that you get in jars to relieve itching, this is 'the' Tigerbalm in total 'Profunda Alma' featuring Joy Tyson.

Razor-N-Tape got all tropical before Xmas with this 5-tracker where Tigerbalm (aka Nicola Robinson) indulges her Afro-Latin obession (as you may guess from the cover artwork).

Renewing the 'International Love Affair' association with Joy Tyson, 'Profunda Alma' is the Rio beach Night Club tension set to the colour abandom of New Year Fireworks; at the disco of course, with cuíca.

Tigerbalm's 'International Love Affair' album attracted some name remixers like Chico Mann, Daniele Baldelli, Emperor Machine and Bustin' Loose (aka Tom Lilly at the Disco Express - see interview HERE) this release is going to get the Make-A-Dance duo, London based Ben Lewis and Josh Ludlow, top of many lists for tripped out dubs.

With the groovey Make-A-Dance Tribal Dub and a Make-A-Dance Acid Mix, this is great 12" for many an occassion.

Not only that, to mis-quote SNL, "More cuíca!"  And that we get with 'Vem Cá' featuring João Selva; with added bonus of a Yuksek remix.  The original sounds like it could have been on the 'new' Brasil of a 'SIM, SIM, SIM' (see review HERE) whilst Yuksek takes it up to the jazzy mainroom and he's the hot name at the moment after the Chilam Balam release last year (see reviw HERE).  Not exact Azymuth/Airto/etc for 'more cuíca!' but it's getting there.

Remember this is the Tigerbalm to take away any new year dancing pain and it's going to last long into the night/year. 

BUY LINK https://razor-n-tape.lnk.to/ProfundaAlmaEP

Artist: Tigerbalm

Title: Profunda Alma
Release date: 4th December, 2024
Label : Razor-N-Tape.
Catalog Number : RNTR074
Format :  Digital / Bandcamp