Review: Boy & Bear EP

Alicia Melville-Smith

With Emperor Antarctica EP by Boy & Bear

There is something about indie-folk music, I find it often crawls into my heart, curls into a ball and rests there for an extended period of time. Boy & Bear are no different. Their blend of whimsical multi-instrumental folk and understated alternative country is nothing new. They ride in on the wave of artists such as Fleet Foxes, Laura Marling & Mumford and Sons. And how is this for impressive, they’ve just spent the last couple of months in the UK touring with that folk darling Laura Marling.

The five young men have returned to our fair shores and are currently touring the country promoting their new EP With Emperor Antarctica, whilst gaining national exposure on triple J. And what an EP, I wouldn’t have imagined that five short songs (the longest track is 3.56) could grip me with such a fevered desire to sway rhythmically from side-to-side.

‘Mexican Mavis’ is achingly beautiful. Dave Hosking’s vocals are at times soaring and jaunty and at others lilting and defined. ‘Rabbit Song’ is just as beautiful and includes a number of crooning vocalisations that include my favourite ‘woo oh hoo hoo hoo’. Boy & Bear’s melodic vocals, rich harmonies and heart wrenchingly honest lyrics make it very difficult for any self respecting music lover to resist them. So don’t. Get out there and listen.

Boy & Bear are playing at Jive (Friday 4^th June). So come along or, alternatively, visit them at www.myspace.com/boyandbearmusic