poppedmusic

Agape

Released 18th March 2013

It’s cold outside, oh baby it’s cold outside. I need something warm to wrap around myself, not just a blanket, something to warm my soul and Bear’s Den’s Agape EP is the perfect remedy to warm me inside and out. (Ok the blanket helps too.) Rich tones and textures are what makes this EP feel so cosy, even if a lyric might be sad there’s still something uplifting present to pull it through.

Those who read my reviews will know how much I love a good close microphone when it comes to production and on second track, Issac, the intimacy is incredible. It captures every little creak and crack in vocal,  and those intakes of breath that some big production pop songs wouldn’t ever dare let anyone hear, here transform you from your seat to being sat in front of the band. For such an intimately personal song Bear’s Den have really allowed everyone in. It’s such a simple track too but every time I hear it I’m stopped in my tracks.

Lead single Agape has everything a solid lead single should have; a captivating intro, a good solid pace and a chorus that you can’t fail to sing along to. It’s more of a stroll in a park than a romp of a track though, but the chorus does pick up a little. It’s not too gentle that it will send you to sleep, there is some lovely percussion and harmonies that build together toward the end of the song. It’s a song that builds in passion, texture and pace. It’s just pretty great to be honest.

Mother has more of a depressing feel to it, a very melancholy theme but the banjo and guitar give it a warm glow but it is my least favourite track here just because I don’t connect with it very much. When You Break  builds into something quite dark and menacing and this really adds another dimension to the EP and it gives Agape a good run for its money in terms of being my pick of the bunch. The last track, A Year Ago Today, is really very pretty. I know they probably won’t like that choice of word but it’s true, the musical arrangements are pretty twinkly. It follows the general flow/theme of the EP; it’s an upbeat but not quite so happy a tune. The harmonies are really really good on this track and it brings a perfect roundness to the EP so you can just sit and listen to it on a loop.

I’m now going to say some things that  some people might have me put in a straight jacket for saying: 1. I detect an almost Scottish accent sometimes (but when he speaks it’s a London accent). 2. Not just because of number 1, there’s something really Biffy Clyro about them at times. There ,I’ve said it. Bear’s Den could be the folk Biffy. So you want me to quantify this comment do you? OK, I can do that. Go ahead and listen to the vocal; the annunciation and the almost nasal style in which Andrew sings at times, also the vocal structure (especially in When You Break) and then you might just actually see/hear what I’m saying. It is only slight, but none the less… C’mon The Den 😉

Watch Issac here: