“Mexican Mavis”
from the EP With Emperor Antarctica
2010
iTunes
Boy & Bear, a young and talented Sydney five-piece band, have quickly climbed in popularity since winning Triple J’s Unearthed spot to play at Homebake in 2009. Their first EP, With Emperor Antarctica, has only five short songs but grips the listener in a way that’s quite unlike any other.
With a distinct indie-folk sound, it was destined to appeal to the op-shopping, combat boot wearing youths of today. However, Boy & Bear have also captured the attention of industry notables. Performing at last year’s Splendour in the Grass, they were invited onstage by Mumford & Sons.
Alike the song of the Mavis bird, “Mexican Mavis,” the fourth song on the EP, features repeated musical phrases and almost eerie echoing. The lyrics “won’t you keep from the beggars of bones / for the night comes to bring them home,” results in the song having a ghostly appeal. Bizarrely, this only makes you want to listen to the song on repeat.
“Rabbit Song,” Boy & Bear’s most well known song on the EP, employs the same echoing as in “Mexican Mavis”, suggesting it may become a feature of their work. Boy & Bear’s characteristic vocal accompaniments feature as usual in Rabbit Song. Their effective use of “woos,” fit perfectly with the mix of electric and acoustic sounds.
All their songs have distinctive musical rhythms and powerful beats but the song, “The Storm,” showcase’s the voice of lead singer Dave Hosking. The first one minute 15 seconds of the song has only Hosking’s voice and a gentle acoustic guitar. His voice is mellow and clear, leaving the listener with the impression he has a story to tell.
If this EP is anything to go by, music listeners young and old should be excited about Boy & Bear’s future.