Richard
Burke - "The Secret" (taken from the mini album "Roscrea"
Bearos055)Richard
Burke - "The Secret" (taken from the mini album "Roscrea"
Bearos055)Richard Burke was one of the original members of The Starries
though has kept a low profile since their split in 2002. His songwriting ability
shines through this collection of folk tinged numbers and his lilting Irish
brogue is all the better for the ravages of five years of with Birmingham's
top emo band.
The
Starries - "Map of our Stars"(taken from the album "Our Darkest
Hours" Bearos054)Simon Williams famously described them in the NME as "Idlewild falling
down a flight of stairs, falling off a mountain." The chaos and confusion
that errupted both on stage and in the audience too often hid great songs and
wry, sad tales of modern life, loves and losses.
James
Summerfield - "Saltwater Running" (taken from the "Hailah, Hailah
Live EP" Bearos053)A special treat for all those of you who loved James' debut album, "Hailah, Hailah" on which he played the majority of the instruments. Initially a solo live artist he has since recruited Sophia Johnson and Jamie Fekete from The Toy Hearts for gigs around the UK. The songs from the album have developed a whole new perspective and this EP is an attempt to capture that sound and atmosphere . Recorded on 18th October 2003, totally live at Rich Bitch Studios in Birmingham with Sophia playing dobro and Jamie on mandolin.
Owen
Tromans - "The Spanish Flag" (taken from the album "Place"
Bearos048)"Place" is the third solo album from the ex-vocalist/guitarist of
San Lorenzo. Name checking Yo La Tengo, Buffalo Tom, Billy Bragg and Mary Timony
he is a man intuitively immersed in Americana, traditional English folk and
above all, the spirit of independance.
Recorded in Northern Italy it mixes his studied craftsmanship with the spontaneity
of playing with local session players to create his most complete and satisfying
work yet.
The
Regulars - "October We Take It Back" (taken from the album "Effortless"
Bearos046)As "indie" and "alternative" become the property of big
business and media whores it's a real pleasure to bring you this joyful dance-athon
of pure guitar pop.
A passion for loud guitars, exuberant gigs and above all a skill in writing
songs set this band head and shoulders above their contemporaries.
Ben
Calvert - "Sitting Ducks" (taken from the album "The Leafy Underground"
Bearos045)Ben's debut in 2001 was a series of misty, lonesome travelogues. For his debut
album his post-folk still paints a world of eternal Autumn though it's more
like Sunday mornings and leafy walks with Nick Drake, Nico and Ben Watt as your
quiet companions.
Baxxter
- "Yr Palace" (taken from the album "Action:Re-action" Bearos044)Punky stuff from a band with the hurricane force of At The Drive-In and the off-beat pop sensibilities of Seafood.
CrazyFace
- Free Coke (title track on the CD single "Free Coke" Bearos033) The post-punk-pop of this incredible Birmingham five piece can be so catchy
it hurts and yet equally as heartfelt that you want to weep! The live performances
are inspirational with dynamic vocalist Simon Pearce dubbed the star of the
first Bearos Rough Trade RoTa showcase.
"Vocals that have hints of Thom Yorke or Jeff Buckley about them yet the
track is faster and more angular then either mentioned. CrazyFace are certainly
a band worth checking out in a climate of stale copycat bands." Rhythm
& Booze
"Their sound comes from a love of The Clash, The Stooges and Muse."
NME
Grover
- "Ma, I Failed" (taken from the album "Tiny Blue Sparks"
Bearos032)Grover are a three-piece from the Midlands who combine introspective post-rock,
powerful songwriting and shades of Billy Mahonnie and Radiohead
Papa
November - "Small Room" (taken from the album "From The Startline"
Bearos031)"From The Startline"is a wonderfully atmospheric feast of hip-hop beats and electronic soundscapes. Strong female vocals focus on the singer's memories of a childhood spent in Ghana, West Africa. Something like Portishead would be a lazy reference - there are edges of dark experimentation here - but it probably puts you in the right ball park.
Meets
Guitar - "When It Comes Alive" (taken from the Meets Guitar/Taunus
split 7" Bearos030)MEETS GUITAR is the solo project of Gavin Baker of Billy Mahonie/Glider/Jet
Johnson. From the front porches of the Appalachians to the smoky pubs of Camden,
Gavin creates a kind of London pastoral sound, rich with two chord overdubbed
acoustic guitars and mandolins.
In 1997 a 4-track home recording system provided some vocal relief from the
hectic instrumental lifestyle of Billy Mahonie. Since 2001 a swanky new 8-track
unit has enabled some of these back-room antics to reach a quality fit for public
consumption
San
Lorenzo - "We Got Mysticism" (taken from the album "The Sea Is
A Map" Bearos024)The mixture of quiet introspection and raging epics has often seen this band
lumped in with Mogwai and the rest of the post-rock crowd. San Lorenzo offer
so much more with strains of Yo La Tengo, The Fall and Talking Heads.
"Young people who have been at the Slint pills and Fugazi lozenges, and
indeed, the whole medicine cabinet of US post-hardcore. And they are all the
better for it. Quality." Kitty Empire, NME.
Dreams
of Tall Buildings - "Remember The Words" (taken from the double 7"
pack Bearos021)This track comes from a 5-track double 7" vinyl. Packed in card mail-out
sleeves, all with individually hand-stamped prints.
doTb formed at the end of 1999 and began with projects involving sound textures
from various media sources and environments. Initial explorations led to the
release of a series of limited tapes and CDRs in hand made packaging involving
branded wooden sleeves and hospital specimen bags as well as a sold out lathe-cut
7" on Static Caravan Records. Their sound ranges from minimal microwaves,
breathing and non notes to hideously distorted trumpets and string loops sounding
like Miles Davis stabbing Stan Getz in a floatation tank.
This release concentrates on atmospheric sound collages and rhythms. Wierd but
enchantingly accessible!
"The mood rages from Japanese underwater samba instructions, to a kind
of stately music for sick babies, to monkeys with harmonicas. Its crafty ass
thing." THE WIRE November 2003