Music
Press
Multi-coloured artwork and two sweets accompanying the press pack in the post, there's definitely something sugary and liable to induce hyperactivity about Bear Driver and as the twinkling glockenspiel strikes up on A Thousand Samurais everything seems to be a perfect fit.
Dreamily sung boy/girl vocals coo over a laidback drumbeat, ukelele and the aforementioned glockenspiel. It's a bright, hazy summery tune that brings to mind The Boy Least Likely To and The New Tea Party, but there's a melancholy that stops this from becoming painfully twee or teeth rottingly sugary. Bear Driver are kind of like children's party entertainment by Arcade Fire and this kind of big v. small mix is showcased brilliantly by No Time To Speak which has all the spine-tingling stomp of Arcade Fire's Black Mirror but here adorned with glittering atmospherics and organ.
Final track Ada Rose begins sleepily before leaping into an upbeat sing-a-long a la Little My and finally lulling itself back to a woozy chant of over-lapping voices. It's a suitably daydreamy ending to this charming little EP. - GOD IS IN THE TV ZINE.
'Mind Attack' from Bear Driver fits perfectly back into the indie jigsaw with an instantly-catchy hook, raspy vocals and lyrics you wish you knew the words to so you could sing along straight away. If this track ever receives enough exposure it's going to get us dancing up storms across the country!
- TASTY FANZINE.
"It takes them a couple of songs to really find their feet, but when they do their psychedelic pop fits perfectly with the slowly revealing sunshine."
- MUSO'S GUIDE.
"Bear Driver caught the early evening off guard, and cuddled it into a blissful corner of effortlessly good songs played with understated glee (and lots of vocal harmony). The stage looks gorgeous, with peacock feathers and a Pre-Raphaelite shimmer of vivid colour. They make me so happy I’m nearly in tears." - VIBRATIONS MAGAZINE.
Discography
EP - Paws & Claws - May 2009
Single - Mind Attack - July 2009 (DTTR)
Tracks from the EP and Mind Attack have been played on national radio (BBC Radio 1, 2, BBC 6 music and XFM) as well as regional stations.
Photos
Bio
Bear Driver started out in 2008. In the world of post-university Harry and Oli were living in the same house in Leeds, each writing their own solo material. Having bonded over a mutual appreciation of Radiohead, The Beatles, Joanna Newsom and The National they joined forces to make the colourful-pop-super-duo, Bear Driver – originally playing live as a two-piece with a backing track. Later that year they recruited London girl, Cassie, for her ethereal vocals and Harry’s friend Joe from back home in Lincolnshire for his eclectic skills with keyboard, glockenspiel, melodica and sampler. Recording was done and mixed in bedrooms and the debut EP ‘Paws and Claws’ was released in May 2009. Jon who plays bass and Nic who plays the drums standing up (!) were recruited to complete the live line-up. The debut EP recieved a lot of attention and Bear Driver were fast-tracked by the BBC to play at Leeds/Reading festival. When Bear Driver played Reading it was only their seventh gig. Shortly afterwards they won a competition to play End of the Road Festival and, most recently, they have supported Bombay Bicycle Club. The band are currently recording for their next release in January. They share a special relationship with their blue VW van Bev, who is very temperamental!
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