Album Of The Week - Boy & Bear - With Emperor Antartica

God there are some good things coming out of this pretty little land of ours…

One of which is harmony-drenched indie folk band - Boy & Bear.  Hailing from Sydney this talented young five-piece have already supported a number of huge acts including the likes of Angus & Julia Stone and Laura Marling. Currently touring to promote the release of their debut EP White Emperor Antarctica the lads have also secured a spot at Splendour In The Grass, and this is just the beginning. This little EP has been selected for our Album Of The Week.

For a while there, it seemed as though Folk music had become outdated, the taboo section of our parent’s music collection. I had always perceived it as stale, until acts such as Mumford and Sons, Grizzly Bear and Fleet Foxes came along. This genre has now been rewritten, redesigned with a contemporary edge, labelled Indie Folk or New Folk and has recaptured the hearts of mainstream.

The first release and first taste we got of this little gem was Mexican Mavis which also featured on their pre-EP release. Swept up by JJJ back in 09, it was this track that granted the quintet the right to play at Sydney’s famous Homebake. Meticulously building upon each element, Mexican evolves into a harmoniously colourful number that was a perfect first release for Boy and Bear to begin building their legions of fans.  

The opening track of the bands EP, Blood and Gold is warm with measured melody and a country vibe. Recorded in 301 studios in Byron Bay over 10 days with producer Rick Will, influences such as Fleet Foxes, The Shins and The Middle East are more than evident.  This brief five-track collection introduces us to lyrical narratives that are simple yet clever.

From a blissfully timid opening, The Storm builds into a balanced equation of acoustic and electric instruments. Lead singer, Dave Hosking’s vocal ability is stunning and is only amplified by the beautiful melodies and vocals of the rest of the band. The two final songs have taken us back to the slower and softer side of Boy and Bear.

The Final track, The Rain, is rawer and more acoustic than its four predecessors though the layers are still evident.  Broken down, simplified and then re-constructed, The Rain beautifully ties up our first taste of Boy and Bear.  

With Emperor Antarctica is warm, comforting and honest. The group's outstanding vocals convey their passion for the art. The album is compelling yet lacking in musical range. Perhaps if there were more than five tracks that criticism would be laid to rest? Overall I loved this album and cannot wait to see them live, apparently their acoustic sets are amazing.

8.5/10

Last chance for Sydney-siders to catch Boy and Bear is this Saturday (12^th) at the Annandale or 13^th at the Come Together Festival, Luna Park. If you cant along to either of these then make sure you catch them at Splendour. Go and fall in love with Boy and Bear.

POST BY BEC CLARK (Reebajeeb)

Muse Pyramid VS Daft Punk Pyramid

(Photo By Reebajeeb)

After taking out headline spot for this year’s Big Day Out tour, UK trio Muse are back, and this time with a killer stadium show. 

I’m looking at it like this… they played Coachella and while they didn’t have the headline slot their set still included a massive lighting rig and a pyrotechnics show that would give the Harbour Bridge on NYE a run for its money (well not quite, but it was pretty impressive). So, given their own tour, in their own stadium we know the show will be epic.

Lead singer Matthew Bellamy has referenced George Orwell’s 1984 as an influence for the design of the set. This influence also surfaced during a Rolling Stones interview as inspiration, along with Nassium Nicholas Taleb’s 2007 Novel The Black Swan, for their most recent album The Resistance. 

Muse have always been very musically ambitious and while their performances have been the same, this time around they have taken things to a whole new level. In a recent interview about Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever) and its place as the lead single for the third Twilight film Bellamy commented “You know the all seeing eye with a big eye-ball on top? It basically looks like that…It’s supposed to be a cross between that and George Orwell’s ministry from 1984 – we’ve got a chrome UFO”

Well, you can just see for yourself….

Photographer: Danny North

by MuseAdmin

View the rest of the production rehearsals here

Tickets go on sale for Muse.mu members tomorrow (June 4) and tickets are around 120 bones. 

Playing: 

05.12.10 Brisbane Entertainment Centre

09.12.10 Sydney ACER Arena

14.12.10 Melbourne Rod Laver Arena

19.12.10 Perth Bassendean Oval

POST BY BEC CLARK (Reebajeeb)

The Holidays

Sydney indie four piece The Joysticks officially kicked off the Holidays Golden Sky single tour. Playing to a very empty crowed at the Oxford Art Factory their set was less than impressive. As people slowly trickled in out of the cold there was a better turn out for the second support band Ernest Ellis who were awesome and will be Joining the Holidays for the rest of their tour.

By the time Sydney darlings The Holidays took to the stage the room was filled. Since starting back in 2006 with a bass player who had no idea how to play, the quartet have evolved in to something very impressive. Two EP’s down and a host of international and local support slots including Ben Kweller, The Wombats, Jamie T and Lightspeed Champion, The Holidays have finally committed to a much anticipated full length album that will be out in August.

Moonlight Hours was the killer first single off their debut album followed by Golden Sky, which last nights performance was in aid of. Going off these two tracks we can expect big things from the rest of the album, recorded and produced by the guys and mixed by Tony Espie (Midnight Juggernauts).

They have evolved from their simpler indie past to something much more colourful and musically complex. Last nights gig delivered an energetic performance from the band that was heavy with vocal melodies and upbeat rhythms. With a stronger pop sensibility than their earlier material this new album will appeal to mainstream and should ensure big things for the Holidays. Dense with layers that showcase the groups growing technical ability their performance was faultless. Filled with “summer vibes, electropical dance numbers & mellow, breezy melodies” the Holidays always ensure a wicked set so try get along to one of their gigs sometime. Check out their website for details.

POST BY BEC CLARK (Reebajeeb)