Bear Hands – Burning Bush Supper Club (04/07/2011)
This four-piece out of New York have finally brought to the fore a debut LP that is intriguing but also challenging. Opening track Crime Pays has a very distinct nu-indie-punk feel and sounds more like something coming out of the British scene than from an American act. However as we push further into the track-listing is when we see the band shifting into a different genre and sound altogether. Tablasaurus showcases their more electro side and even has a very MGMT sound, not surprising then that Bear Hands were college buddies and have supported them on the road.
The pace gets turned down a few notches on Wicksey Boxing, wistful and echo distorted vocals over the top of a monochromatic drumbeat, it almost has a lullaby-esque feel. However we’re immediately thrust back into the indie-punk zone on Blood And Treasure though, with a raw rock ‘n’ roll urgency in the guitar work provided by Ted Feldman that is a real stark contrast to the previous track.
The unfortunate thing with this particular act and this LP is that their sound is easily likeable enough if you are a fan of the electro-indie scene overall. However due to bands like MGMT, The XX, Passion Pit and Vampire Weekend paving the way, Bear Hands haven’t quite managed to pull off any absolute stand-out tracks that could set them apart from the aforementioned musical colleagues. They do however possess a far quirkier sense of humour in their song-writing with front-man Rau reciting in What A Drag – ‘smearing a bug, in a bottomless pit, I’m sending my love, but they won’t let it in’ – there is something oddly poetic and symbolic in amongst the immense drum sounds, or whiney guitars.
The Australian/New Zealand release of this album comes with a bonus disc featuring the bands Golden EP as well as select remixes of tracks off Burning Bush Supper Club. With the BRAHMS Remix of Wicksey Boxing being a personal standout due to its unusual inclusion of layered strings over the already dark and brooding tones.
Undoubtedly there will be music fans who will enjoy this record and this band have the potential to bring a more demanding take on this music, if given the opportunity to keep alongside their peers.
Carina Nilma
The pace gets turned down a few notches on Wicksey Boxing, wistful and echo distorted vocals over the top of a monochromatic drumbeat, it almost has a lullaby-esque feel. However we’re immediately thrust back into the indie-punk zone on Blood And Treasure though, with a raw rock ‘n’ roll urgency in the guitar work provided by Ted Feldman that is a real stark contrast to the previous track.
The unfortunate thing with this particular act and this LP is that their sound is easily likeable enough if you are a fan of the electro-indie scene overall. However due to bands like MGMT, The XX, Passion Pit and Vampire Weekend paving the way, Bear Hands haven’t quite managed to pull off any absolute stand-out tracks that could set them apart from the aforementioned musical colleagues. They do however possess a far quirkier sense of humour in their song-writing with front-man Rau reciting in What A Drag – ‘smearing a bug, in a bottomless pit, I’m sending my love, but they won’t let it in’ – there is something oddly poetic and symbolic in amongst the immense drum sounds, or whiney guitars.
The Australian/New Zealand release of this album comes with a bonus disc featuring the bands Golden EP as well as select remixes of tracks off Burning Bush Supper Club. With the BRAHMS Remix of Wicksey Boxing being a personal standout due to its unusual inclusion of layered strings over the already dark and brooding tones.
Undoubtedly there will be music fans who will enjoy this record and this band have the potential to bring a more demanding take on this music, if given the opportunity to keep alongside their peers.
Carina Nilma