| Bear’s Den — Red Earth & Pouring Rain (22 July, 2016) |
Bear’s Den — Red Earth & Pouring Rain (22 July, 2016)
♠ A mature, creative second album... Warm and earnest indie folk in the vein of the Avett Brothers and the Mumford Boys from this London trio. 
© Andrew Davie (Kalpesh Patel)
Location: London, UK
Album release: 22nd July, 2016
Record Label: Bear’s Den
Genre: Indie Pop, Folk, Alternative
Duration: 60:50
Tracks:
01. Red Earth & Pouring Rain 4:52
02. Emeralds 4:31
03. Dew on the Vine 5:03
04. Roses on a Breeze 5:21
05. New Jerusalem 4:13
06. Love Can’t Stand Alone 5:27
07. Auld Wives 4:39
08. Greenwoods Bethlehem 5:33
09. Broken Parable 6:12
10. Fortress 5:22
11. Gabriel 4:05
12. Napoleon 5:26
Review
SHANNON COTTON REVIEWS 21 · 07 · 2016 / SCORE: 8/10
♠ Themes of escapism, loss and remorse are nothing new when it comes to inspirational album content.
♠ Perhaps the relatability and significance to everyday life is what makes these concepts so popular? These are also the common themes that Bear’s Den have pressed forward with for their sophomore effort Red Earth & Pouring Rain. However stepping away from the risk of being just another melancholic record, this London–based band have carefully crafted a second album which showcases a euphoric step forward and poignant growth in their musicality.
♠ No song on the record is shorter than four minutes. It makes each track reminiscent of a chapter in a book that’s hard not to get engrossed in and fall completely captivated by — especially when vocalist and guitarist Andrew Davie’s lyrics are so vivid in their imagery.
♠ The album’s opener and title track is awakening and uplifting in its sonic construction, marking an ethereal beginning to the start of this story. Proving the song to be a successful example of forlorn lyrical content layered upon a soaring synth–led backing track, the tone in Davie’s vocal is endearing as he asks, “Don’t you remember love?” Moving to ‘Emeralds’, the sophisticated guitars yet pulsing percussion really allows the collective’s triumphant attempts of elated folk rock to shine through.
♠ Every piece of ‘Red Earth & Pouring Rain’ is so undeniably delicate and intricate, like an antique family heirloom, it even makes you question how hard you hit the play button for fear of damage. But it’s the aforementioned heartfelt lyrics that really make you take care. From “There’ll still be a trace of our love left behind on the dew upon the vine” on ‘Dew On The Vine’ to “You’ll always be the love of my life” on the sonically darker and more brooding ‘Roses On A Breeze’, Davie’s attention to detail paired with his ability to make you feel involved in these heart–wrenching situations is second to none. Undoubtedly this is a record which grips you, taking you on a journey and making you unwittingly invest all of your emotions just from one simple press of a button. ♠ http://clashmusic.com/
© Kevin Jones , Bears Den (Kalpesh Patel)
Artist Biography by James Christopher Monger
♠ Taking a cue from earnest, pastoral folk–rockers like Mumford & Sons, the Avett Brothers, and Stornoway, London alt–country/indie folk trio Bear’s Den formed around the talents of Joey Haynes and ex–Cherbourg members Andrew Davie and Kev Jones. Bear’s Den honed their chops on tours with contemporaries like Of Monsters and Men, the Smoke Fairies, and Matt Corby before securing the opening slot for the Mumford Boys’ 2012 performance at London’s massive O2 Arena. The group issued a pair of debut EPs, Without/Within and Agape, through the Communion label the following year.
Website: http://www.bearsdenmusic.co.uk/
Twitter: https://bearsden.lnk.to/Twitter
Facebook: https://bearsden.lnk.to/Facebook 
TOUR 2016
November
1 — Brighton, The Dome
2 — Birmingham, O2 Institute
3 — Glasgow, O2 ABC
4 — Manchester, Albert Hall
5 — Norwich, UEA
8 — London, Brixton Academy
9 — Bristol, O2 Academy
♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠
| Bear’s Den — Red Earth & Pouring Rain (22 July, 2016) |
Location: London, UK
Album release: 22nd July, 2016
Record Label: Bear’s Den
Genre: Indie Pop, Folk, Alternative
Duration: 60:50
Tracks:
01. Red Earth & Pouring Rain 4:52
02. Emeralds 4:31
03. Dew on the Vine 5:03
04. Roses on a Breeze 5:21
05. New Jerusalem 4:13
06. Love Can’t Stand Alone 5:27
07. Auld Wives 4:39
08. Greenwoods Bethlehem 5:33
09. Broken Parable 6:12
10. Fortress 5:22
11. Gabriel 4:05
12. Napoleon 5:26
Review
SHANNON COTTON REVIEWS 21 · 07 · 2016 / SCORE: 8/10
♠ Themes of escapism, loss and remorse are nothing new when it comes to inspirational album content.
♠ Perhaps the relatability and significance to everyday life is what makes these concepts so popular? These are also the common themes that Bear’s Den have pressed forward with for their sophomore effort Red Earth & Pouring Rain. However stepping away from the risk of being just another melancholic record, this London–based band have carefully crafted a second album which showcases a euphoric step forward and poignant growth in their musicality.
♠ No song on the record is shorter than four minutes. It makes each track reminiscent of a chapter in a book that’s hard not to get engrossed in and fall completely captivated by — especially when vocalist and guitarist Andrew Davie’s lyrics are so vivid in their imagery.
♠ The album’s opener and title track is awakening and uplifting in its sonic construction, marking an ethereal beginning to the start of this story. Proving the song to be a successful example of forlorn lyrical content layered upon a soaring synth–led backing track, the tone in Davie’s vocal is endearing as he asks, “Don’t you remember love?” Moving to ‘Emeralds’, the sophisticated guitars yet pulsing percussion really allows the collective’s triumphant attempts of elated folk rock to shine through.
♠ Every piece of ‘Red Earth & Pouring Rain’ is so undeniably delicate and intricate, like an antique family heirloom, it even makes you question how hard you hit the play button for fear of damage. But it’s the aforementioned heartfelt lyrics that really make you take care. From “There’ll still be a trace of our love left behind on the dew upon the vine” on ‘Dew On The Vine’ to “You’ll always be the love of my life” on the sonically darker and more brooding ‘Roses On A Breeze’, Davie’s attention to detail paired with his ability to make you feel involved in these heart–wrenching situations is second to none. Undoubtedly this is a record which grips you, taking you on a journey and making you unwittingly invest all of your emotions just from one simple press of a button. ♠ http://clashmusic.com/
Artist Biography by James Christopher Monger
♠ Taking a cue from earnest, pastoral folk–rockers like Mumford & Sons, the Avett Brothers, and Stornoway, London alt–country/indie folk trio Bear’s Den formed around the talents of Joey Haynes and ex–Cherbourg members Andrew Davie and Kev Jones. Bear’s Den honed their chops on tours with contemporaries like Of Monsters and Men, the Smoke Fairies, and Matt Corby before securing the opening slot for the Mumford Boys’ 2012 performance at London’s massive O2 Arena. The group issued a pair of debut EPs, Without/Within and Agape, through the Communion label the following year.
Website: http://www.bearsdenmusic.co.uk/
Twitter: https://bearsden.lnk.to/Twitter
Facebook: https://bearsden.lnk.to/Facebook
November
1 — Brighton, The Dome
2 — Birmingham, O2 Institute
3 — Glasgow, O2 ABC
4 — Manchester, Albert Hall
5 — Norwich, UEA
8 — London, Brixton Academy
9 — Bristol, O2 Academy