TIGER STRIPES — A Tiger Never Loses Its Stripes (2x12")

Tiger Stripes – A Tiger Never Loses Its Stripes opens the Rekids 2×12-inch vinyl REKIDS304, a house LP that arrives on 4 December 2026. After a two-decade gap since the debut “Safari” album, the Swedish producer returns with a collection of soulful, instrument-led house tracks that showcase his knack for textured grooves and swing-laden loops. The release sits squarely in Rekids’ current output, following the “Got Love EP” by Tal Fussman (REKIDS303) on the same day and arriving after a series of “A Tiger Never Loses Its Stripes” parts that have built a narrative across the label’s 2026 catalogue. Within Rekids’ recent schedule the LP expands a thread that began with “Radio Hood” (REKIDS300) and continued through “A Tiger Never Loses Its Stripes (Part 1)” (REKIDS299), “Part 2” (REKIDS301) and “Part 3” (REKIDS302). Those 12-inch installments introduced fragments of the forthcoming full-length, and the new double-LP consolidates them into a cohesive whole while adding fresh material that deepens the artist’s house palette. Side A opens with “Slow”, a track that rolls out a funky bassline weaving between dusty, skipping house drums, setting a warm, inviting groove. “Shape The Future” follows, offering a twitchy, rasping lead that feels heads-down and laser-lit before unfolding into a subtle synth celebration. The third cut, “Twelve”, provides silky, ever-rising jazzy loops that lift the mood, while “All Systems Go” introduces a vocoder-treated vocal that adds a retro-future twist to the house framework. Side B continues the journey with “Sonore De Lettres”, described as loopy, soulful house perfection, delivering a deep, melodic groove that rewards repeated listens. “Free As A Bird” provides a breath of airy movement, leading into “ID”, which flips the script with funky bass riffs and dub-inspired effects hovering above a lighter rhythm. “Stay hypnotic” places its head amongst cosmic arps while the swinging drums stay rooted in a back-room intimacy, and hushed vocals add a personal touch. Side C shifts the focus to “Nothing To Do” and “Strike”, two tracks that maintain the record’s rhythmic consistency while exploring subtle variations in mood. “Fire Eater” arrives as a nimble groove with matching chords, delivering a joyous lift, and “The Wetdown” rounds the side with a relaxed, liquid feel that invites lingering on the dancefloor. Side D closes the LP with “Like This” and “Now Is The Time”, tracks that build anticipation before the final “Clocking”, a house heater designed to get feet stomping and hearts full of good vibes. The sequencing moves from reflective moments to high-energy closure, giving DJs a clear arc for set construction. In the context of Tiger Stripes’ catalogue, this LP follows a prolific period on Rekids that includes the three “Part” releases and earlier outings such as “All Night Long” (REKIDS257, 2025) and “Dance For Peace” (REKIDS267, 2025). The artist’s history of releases on Hot Creations, Kaoz Theory and Kwench Records, as well as earlier Drumcode EPs, informs the LP’s blend of classic house swing with a personal, genre-spanning sensibility. Within Rekids, the record complements the label’s recent focus on forward-thinking house, aligning with releases like Fort Romeau’s “Lovin’ U LP” (REKIDS297) and Maceo Plex’s “Monster EP” (REKIDS296). For DJs, the double-LP offers a versatile toolbox: “Slow” and “All Systems Go” work well as warm-up or early-set selections, “Sonore De Lettres” and “Stay hypnotic” suit deeper, mood-focused moments, while “Fire Eater” and “Clocking” provide peak-time energy. The record’s emphasis on swing, melodic loops and subtle vocal touches makes it suitable for both club environments and more intimate, back-room settings. The release is pressed as a 2×12-inch vinyl set, matching the format of the earlier “Part” releases and offering the tactile experience expected from Rekids’ house offerings. Tiger Stripes – A Tiger Never Loses Its Stripes, Rekids, REKIDS304, 2×12-inch vinyl, 15 tracks, house, released 4 December 2026. Tracklist: A1. Tiger Stripes – Slow A2. Tiger Stripes – Shape The Future A3. Tiger Stripes – Twelve A4. Tiger Stripes – All Systems Go B1. Tiger Stripes – Sonore De Lettres B2. Tiger Stripes – Free As A Bird B3. Tiger Stripes – ID B4. Tiger Stripes – Stay hypnotic C1. Tiger Stripes – Nothing To Do C2. Tiger Stripes – Strike C3. Tiger Stripes – Fire Eater C4. Tiger Stripes – The Wetdown D1. Tiger Stripes – Like This D2. Tiger Stripes – Now Is The Time D3. Tiger Stripes – Clocking