Tag Archives: boy and bear

July 1, 2011 · 8:43 pm

New Music 21

Laura Marling has announced details of her third album ‘A Creature I Don’t Know’, it is to be released on September 12th and its sure to be fantastic. Have a watch of this for a little of what to expect. You can catch Laura at a number of festivals this summer including Cambridge Folk, Wilderness, Green Man, End of the Road and Camp Bestival. I also expect a UK tour around the release of the album.

Another band who have just announced details of a third album are Bombay Bicycle Club. After a fantastic debut with ‘I Had the Blues but I Shook them Loose’ and then a wonderfully folky follow up with ‘Flaws’ their third album looks to be somewhere between the two. This is Shuffle, which you can download from iTunes now.

And another band just announced an album, this time is the debut from Boy & Bear. I love this band and have written about them loads so am super excited that they are finally releasing an album. It’s called ‘Moonfire’ and will be released on August 5th, although this could be the Aussie release date so i’ll keep you updated if I find a UK one.

You can grab a free download of this Kyla La Grange song. It’s my favourite of hers so far. She continues to grow on me with each listen and I actually really really like this! Its called ‘I Could Be’ and its the b-side of single ‘Been Better’ out on Chess Club records on July 11th. On July 12th Kyla plays a show at the Lexington in London. She’s hotly tipped so get your tickets fast!

Lanterns on the Lake were my New Treat oh so long ago (well over a year now) when Hazel sent me some of their tunes via email. I thought they were wonderful and clearly some other people did too as they have since been signed to Bella Union and are getting lots of media attention. Their debut album ‘Gracious Tide, Take Me Home’ is out on September 19th on Bella Union. What a wonderful title. This song is ‘Almost There’ are you can get a free download of it as well as watching the wonderful video.

Lucy Rose is someone who I think is lovely. She has a new single coming out in August called ‘Middle of the Bed’ and this is the video from it. She is also playing a show at Cargo on July 5th. She seems to sell all her shows out so get tickets fast!

When I was chilling in the Crow’s Nest at Glastonbury, I was lucky to catch someone called Sweet Baboo who I had never come across before. He reminded me of a more playful Johnny Flynn. An excellent guitar player, good voice and wonderful, often quite hilarious songwriting. I think I’ll feature him as a New Treat soon, but heres a nice taster.

This is absolutely stunning Its from Birdy, who I believe is only 14 and is remanding a bit of a mystery at the moment. Despite getting request Radio 1 play and having Fearne Cotton as a fan. She is being pinned as the next Adele but I think this is nicer than Adele (although I am not a massive Adele fan anyway).

I also saw Sea of Bees play at the Crow’s Nest and loved them. I have posted about them before but feel I should put something up again, so this is Gnomes.

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January 4, 2011 · 3:22 pm

Best EP’s of 2010

I’ve come across a lot of really lovely EP’s this year, and I thought I’d create a little post to represent some of these. I’ve done a lot of EP reviews too on here which you can find in the ‘Album Review’ tag but here is a quick run down of some of my favourites.

Matthew and the Atlas- ‘Kingdom of your Own’ and ‘To the North’

Two very beautiful EP’s from this lovely band. Both are delicate and strong and the transition from To the North to Kingdom of your Own shows a great step and I look forward to the album, due this year. This song is Within the Rose from To the North.

Boy and Bear- With Emperor Antarctica

I love this band, I think their sound is wonderful and this EP shows that off brilliantly. They also have some brilliant videos, and this is one of them.

Pete Roe- The Merry-Go-Round EP

Pete Roe is such an underrated talent. His songs are wonderful and I wish he was able to bring them to more people, but alas. At least they were brought to my ears though in the form of this lovely little EP.

Alessi’s Ark- Soul Proprietor

2010 saw Alessi’s Ark sign to the wonderful label Bella Union and consequently release this EP. Her debut album Notes from a Treehouse is a treat for the ears but this EP shows such a wonderful development and maturity in her sound. I believe their is an album due in 2011 and I can’t wait to see how her sound further develops. This is one of my favourite performances on youtube!

Jonny Kearney and Lucy Farrell- The North Farm Sessions

I don’t know if this is a mini-album or an EP, but whatever it is, it melts my heart. The melodies and the harmonies and so so pretty and they are another very underrated duo. I think my favourite EP of the year.

Summer Camp- Young EP

Summer Camp are my favourite new find of 2010 and I hope to see much much more of them in 2011. Their Young EP did not disappoint as this track shows.

Much love x

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September 15, 2010 · 2:05 pm

Boy & Bear- Blood to Gold video

Another brilliant video from Boy & Bear has been released, this time its for Blood to Gold. Love this band!

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June 4, 2010 · 11:50 am

Album Review: With Emperor Antarctica EP- Boy & Bear

Boy & Bear are such a such a wonderful new band. I have rambled on about them since seeing them support Laura Marling on her UK tour. I was thrilled when they brought out an EP but you cannot buy it in the UK so I had to order it from Australia and it came via Air Mail (although quite quickly!). The EP is made up of all the things which make the Boy & Bear sound wonderful; close harmonies, upbeat songwriting, the mixture between acoustic and electric instruments and the gorgeous melting voice of the lead singer. Blood to Gold the first track shows all these things off perfectly. Rabbit Song starts quieter and then the build-up throughout the song is wonderful. Mexican Mavis has been available as a free download for a while on their myspace but still takes its place happily on the EP. The Storm starts with gorgeous swooning harmonies and piano before the song takes a gentler root than the ones that proceed it. The Rain is a little gentler too and the harmonies throughout the song are incredible and the melodies as throughout the EP, are stunning.

Overall a brilliant first EP from a band who I hope have lots more brilliant things to come.

Best Tracks: Rabbit Song, The Rain and Blood to Gold

Rating: 4/5

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May 1, 2010 · 7:12 am

Boy & Bear ‘Rabbit Song’ Video

So in love with this band! There EP is released in Australia on May 7th, you may also be able to get it in the UK but I will give some more info about that around the time. Love this video also, it reminds me a little of the first ‘Dog Days’ video by Florence and the Machine.

Also, yay for the sunshine for Live at Leeds!

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April 18, 2010 · 9:06 pm

New Boy & Bear Song

Yay! It’s called ‘Rabbit Song’ and is super good. Listen here. There is also a bit of information about there EP on there but I don’t know details about when it will be released in the UK. More info coming later probably. x

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April 13, 2010 · 4:34 pm

Gig Review: Laura Marling @ Salford Lowry, Manchester

Anyone who follows this blog regularly will know that I have a bit of an obsession with Laura Marling. I think she is incredible. I went to see her last night at the Salford Lowry, a theatre outside Manchester, along with support from Alessi’s Ark and Boy and Bear. The whole show was such a treat, all three acts just flawless. Boy and Bear played first. They are from Australia, a place where there seems to be alot of brilliant bands coming from at the moment. There harmonies are so beautiful and they had a great energy even though the venue wasn’t where they would be best suited. I hope there is lots more to come from them in the future.

Then for Alessi’s Ark. I’ve seen her twice before but both times with a full band so it was lovely to see that it was just her and one other guy. Her new EP Soul Proprietor came out last week but I think she only played one song from it, Bird Song and the rest was from her album ‘Notes from a Treehouse’. She played Woman though which is my favourite. Her voice is so unique and I think her music is stunning, makes your hairs stand on ends.

And finally, Laura Marling! It was a little surreal so see her playing is such a big venue. I remember the second time I saw her about two years ago at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds. At the end we met her, she was lovely and the whole show was so intimate. And when I saw her at Glastonbury last year I was barely a metre away from her the tent was so small. The Lowry is a big theatre, its got incredible acoustics but the Laura I saw two years ago could not have filled that space. She was still incredible, but so timid and her voice sounding so much younger. The Laura I saw yesterday has grown up, her voice much stronger but still with the same haunting beauty and her music too has evolved. Its unreal to think she is only 20. She played mostly songs from her new album ‘I Speak Because I Can’, but also a few from ‘Alas, I Cannot Swim’ such as Ghosts, My Manic and I and Failure. She played both solo and with her band, which consisted of members of Boy and Bear, and of course Pete Roe. In the middle she did a few solo songs, including a cover of Neil Young’s ‘Needle and the Damage Done’, she messed it up at the end but it was the sweetest mess up ever. New Songs included ‘Rest In My Bed’ and a song she said was written in the last week, both may be on her next album, due at the end of this year. As usual with Laura shows she refused to do an encore and played her last two songs without a gap, she finished with I Speak Because I Can, the last track from the album of the same name. She was stunning, so charming, such an incredible talent. My love for Laura Marling continues and grows.

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April 9, 2010 · 8:43 am

Laura Marling Supports

I have mentioned a few times what the Laura Marling tour supports are, as they are so great. Her tour starts today so for those who haven’t picked up what they are, they are Alessi’s Ark and Boy and Bear. I am going to see her on Monday at the Salford Lowry in Manchester and I am so excited! Here’s what to expect:

I hope everyone who is going has a brilliant time! There are still tickets left for a few dates I think.

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March 26, 2010 · 9:10 pm

Aussie Folk Revolution!

Over the last few years there has been quite an English folk revolution. And I think its now happening in Australia. I have written about a few artists recently including Sarah Blasko, The Middle East and Boy and Bear who are all Australian based. I have been looking today and there are so so many more wonderful bands all coming out of Australia. All the bands are quite unique but like the London folk scene also have a lot in common. They all seem to have a very dreamy quality to them, a little like Bon Iver and also a Fanfarlo feel as a lot of them have lots of different instruments. I really really like all of it I find so I am now going to share some with you.

Boy & Bear- Fleet Foxes harmonies and Arcade Fire chorus’

Lisa Mitchell- dreamy acoustic pop by the voice of an angel

Sarah Blasko- beautiful melodies with very pretty voice

The Middle East- see here

Georgia Fair- summery guitar filled pure pop

Lion Island- traditional folk inspired with every instrument ever

Young Werther- glimpses of Fionn Regan but remains quite unique

Little Scout- Beach House with a more summery feel

Dead Letter Chorus- just lovely! sweet voice with a good indie feel

Laura Jean- beautiful like Blue Roses

Sherlocks Daughter- unique, alternative and wonderful

Cascardeer- guitar melodies and harmonies that would melt butter

I know there is a lot of bands on here but you really should check them all out if you can as they are all wonderful!

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March 25, 2010 · 4:41 pm

New Music 3

This is the third instalment of this of this ‘New Music’ thing I seem to be doing recently. It’s just lots of new bands I come across as I seem to be finding a lot at the moment which is very nice indeed.

This is Lykke Li, she’s not really new. I have been aware of her and listened to a few of her things for ages. She does some really good acoustic tracks like ‘Tonight’ but a lot of her stuff has a lot of production. This song is from the New Moon soundtrack, which seems to be one of the best soundtracks ever. This song is called Possibility and its really beautiful.

This is a new singer who I think is Swedish called Fallulah. This is the best song by her I think, its called Use it For Good.

This is a band called Boy & Bear. I only found them today but they are brilliant! A bit like Local Natives I feel. They are supporting Laura Marling on her UK tour which starts pretty soon I think. Thats going to be a pretty amazing show, with Laura, Alessi and this band too.

This is Giselle, I can’t find a video of her, or anything much except for what’s on her myspace. She is like Beirut but she’s female. She is also from Australia which is another great artist to add to all the amazing bands coming out of Australia. Her myspace is here.

And Matthew and the Atlas! Who I have mentioned before as he is on the communion album but I got his EP which is really lovely and he is defintely worth a lesson. He has got a lovely soft voice, reminds me of Nick Drake a little.

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