The Bear facts
You’d
be surprised how inefficient the promotional process is. Of all
the emails and CDs I get sent, rarely does it lead me to discover
something I like. I’m not sure if it’s my laziness
and meticulous tastes or poor choices those sending me the music,
but the success rate is pretty pathetic. However, every now and
then, something incredible will land in my lap and it makes the
whole process worthwhile.
Brown Bear’s second EP, Music To Swim
To falls into that category. It only took a couple of listens
before I realised I had something special in my hands. It was
quite unexpected because they have a sound that is much softer
than I would normally listen to. But clearly the might of their
song-writing won out because I’ve well and truly fallen
for them. Their sound is one that manages to combine calming minimalism
with a richly textured atmosphere, driven by some excellent vocals.
Strangely enough, I’d say their closest comparison would
the similarly named Grizzly Bear.
There's also a parallel with some of Radiohead's
slower numbers, though I'd hate to set the bar too high. With
7 tracks coming in at over 30 minutes, Music To Swim To
is more than just your average EP. Incredibly, each song seems
to have at least one moment when you feel like you’re witnessing
some musical brilliance. Unfortunately, this potential isn’t
always met, but it doesn’t stop the EP from being an outstanding
effort. It’s early days yet and I’m excited to see
what this band delivers in the future.
They’re currently based in Brisbane, but will
be heading down to Sydney in early January to play a cool 4 shows
in as many days. I'd recommend you try to see at least one, I
know I will be.
Peter Watts
For
more of Peter Watts' music reviews, check out his blog at Open
Your Eyes
