Album Review: The 2 Bears - Be Strong

So after a very successful 2011, we finally get the release of The 2 Bears album 'Be Strong'.

From their first release way back in 2010 the Curious Nature EP, I was expecting big things. I was not disappointed when they dropped the Bear Hug EP back last June. But it was the Work EP that really grabbed my attention early 2012 and got me hyped for an album release.

The album is a walk into what I think could be the happiest paired brains on the plannet (apart from one track but keep reading). It has light hearted harmonies twinned with easy to listen vocals for two of the burliest men in South London. It combines country, dancehall, 2-step, house with a smidgen of dare I say 'world music.' (I fucking hate the term world music, I believe it was invented in East London by hipsters who listen to a Gypsy Kings greatest hits album once and decided that they would tell people they listen to only world music!!!!!)

Title track 'Be Strong' is a massive shout out to influences, collaborators and friends. Starts 'GIVE THE MUSIC ALL YOU LOVIN' and is a gentle reminder that music is what you want it to be and that don't listen to what is deemed cool, but what you like.

'Bear Hug' is of course last summers club banger. (If you didn't hear it then you need to question your musical taste in the summer of 2011........) It's house/2-step combined with cheery vocal section about shagging under the moon with a bear (may have paraphrased a bit.) Also if you haven't checked out the video then it's worth a watch. It's like GMTV crossed with a work out routine video.

'Time In Mind' is Raf Rundells' country influenced, dancehall beat story telling of a "shameful and torrid passage of his life." But sung to an infectious tune that you will be whistling after your first listen, it almost feels wrong to dance to such a track that seems so sad. They did a session video for The Guardian with this track watch it HERE.

I really enjoyed this album and it will be in my CD player for along time (yeah I still buy CDs). It's got 13 tracks on it that you can just sit back and listen to with having to 'skip.' I am in no way saying it's simply back ground music. If you have heard 'Bear Hug' or 'Work'  in a club then you will understand that it is dance music, but a light hearted form. I dare you to try and resist the temptation of dancing when hearing the more upbeat tracks of the album.

Safe.

P.S. My favourite remixed track from the album, only on the 'Curious Nature' (Remixes) - EP.

To buy the album click HERE.

Follow The 2 Bear on Twitter : @followthebears

Follow me on Twitter: @Teddov

The Chemical Brothers: Don't Think

So on the 3rd of February The Chemical Brothers will be releasing their very own 'concert movie/documentary.'

Long time visuals collaborator Adam Smith (who can also take credit for a lot of other things like episodes of Dr Who, Skins (1st series), numerous music videos for The Chemical Brothers, The Streets, Jamie T and Wiley) filmed The Chemical Brothers set at Japan's Fuji Rock festival.

But it's not your standard concert film/documentary. Smith follows members of the audience around the festival and takes his mind blowing visuals to the masses.

It is set to be a concert movie of epic proportions. Not the first concert movie to boast something like Dolby 7:1 surround sound, but it is the first Dolby 7:1 surround sound film to be mixed down by The Chemical Brothers. So bring you ear plugs because I think they may just turn it up to 11!


Talking in a press conference Tom Rowlands (One half of The Chemical Brothers) states: 


"In the recording of a single show – a single night on a Japanese mountainside – Adam Smith, our long time collaborator, has managed to capture the atmosphere of a very special festival appearance.  Come see how it feels to feel, be overwhelmed, intoxicated, swoonerated…Surrender to the void”


"Don't Think" film trailer.

And if your interested in what Adam Smith previous work consists of than have a look here. It's pretty interesting stuff and a lot of it you will recognise. Plus he works on episodes of Dr Who, therefore this guys quite the hero in my books.

Safe.

First order of service!

So I am a huge fan of LCD SoundSystem. I wept a little when I saw LCD play at Bestival back in 2010. It was a small but perfectly formed crowd, stupid people had gone to see The Prodigy instead, which was just stupid. After that summer they did a final set of "goodbye" dates in there favourite cities they loved to play, rounding off there tour with three sold out nights at Madison Square Gardens.

I also love Hot Chip. Seen them a fare few times and they never cease to amaze me at how talented they are.

Both bands have now has several different side projects running weather it be in film or music.

Musically there are the following:

The 2 Bears: are London based producers Joe Goddard (the big hairy one of Hot Chip fame) and DJ Raf Rundell.
These guys have an album up and coming and you can stream it here from The Guardian.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2012/jan/17/2-bears-be-strong-album-stream

This is my favourite track by them:

I say it could just be the sound of Spring, but don't hold me to that.

Alexis Taylor (the guy with the specs and who sings the high notes on all Hot Chip records) released an album called "Start and Complete" with his side project About Group. I haven't listened to it. And apparently Alexis scored a film. I haven't seen that either. END OF!

And finally we come to a really exciting group called 'NEW BUILD.' These guys were formally known as Lanark (glad the decided to change). They released one track back in August 2011 called 'Finding Reasons.'

When I hear more info I will let you know. Safe.

Hello my name is Teddy........

So I finally decided to start writing one of these blog things! Why now, I don't know. But it seems like fun.

A little bit about myself:


I'm a foulmouthed university dropout. (I got kicked out but thats neither here nor there) I am a manager at The Eagle Pub on Farringdon Road (first gastro pub EVER!) I hope to one day run my own pub, but thats way down the line.

I love music, film, Charlton Athletic, BBC 6 Music, my collection of checked shirts (it's well extensive!) and my family.



You will mostly find the following things on here:
Music
Film
My Opinions on stuff (mainly random stuff, sometimes quite strong! You have been warned)

And I might regurgitate stuff from other blogs I find that I think you may like.