85 Bears - Shipwrecking EP
The ’85 Bears were probably the best team in the recent history of the NFL and to boys of a certain age, like myself, names like William ‘The Refrigerator’ Perry are indelibly inked in to our folklore, whether this has any bearing (pun unintentional) on where this band derived their name I’ve no idea but I just thought I’d mention it.
Back in the present, 85 Bears are a hardworking, much gigging instrumental rock band of London origin and have just released their debut EP ‘Shipwrecking’, three tracks of dense, fascinating rock music.
The record Kicks off with the splendidly named ‘Shipwrecking In The 20th Century Was Better In Black And White’, which oddly sounds like a Black Crowes song for about the first 15 seconds before veering off in a direction that the Crowes would never have dreamed of even in their most spliff-addled moments. The track meanders and is repetitive in a good, trance inducing way. The guitars latch on to refrains that get repeated until just the point of monotony and then move on to fresh fields.
Apparently, the whole EP was recorded in one take, and the tracks do kind of blend through one another, and this could account for its ‘live’ feel, it’s a little rough around the edges but somehow that makes it feel like a more authentic experience. Some music of this ilk can sound a little too clinical, this sounds wonderfully organic instead.
‘Godspeed Young Sir, Your Time Is Up’ is my favourite of the three tunes on show here, heavier and more varied than the other two, it has a more interesting dynamic. The record then closes with ‘Jumpin’ With Joe From The Highest Step’ (I do often wonder were the instrumental bands get these song names from!) and again we’re back with the Crowes for the briefest moment (I think it must be the guitar sound!) and then we plunge head first in to another trancey, guitar driven maelstrom. Be patient with the first two minutes or so of this one, because the last two minutes are something else!
All in all, a deeply accomplished debut and one that promises much for the future.
Top Tracks: 'Godspeed Young Sir, Your Time Is Up’.
Released June 15