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TIGA / NO FANTASY REQUIRED - COUNTER RECORDS - There's always been a fertile creative tension at the heart of Tiga's music: on the one hand he's the underground techno don, on the other, there's a pop sensibility that enables him to write great songs. It's this duality that makes him one of electronic music's most engaging characters. He's about as far from your faceless techno DJ as it's possible to get. In his illustrious career, he's remixed LCD Soundsystem, Depeche Mode, Coldcut, The XX and Moby, among many others. He has used his Turbo label to break new acts like Duke Dumont, Chromeo, Gesaffelstein and Boyz Noize. In addition, he has frequently collaborated with luminaries such as James Murphy, Pusha T and, on No Fantasy Required, Hudson Mohawke and Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters. Now, working with key producer Matthew Dear, and Finnish wizard Jori Hulkkonen (who also performs with him live), Tiga has made a record on which he says he feels "more honest, open and playful." No Fantasy Required is a collection of inspired songs that just happen to be delivered via visceral dance music. It's an album with songs and real character, one also packed with instant bangers. No fantasy is required both because this is an honest, open, playful record and also because it provides all the fantasy you could need.