Bears in Trees formed in Croydon, South London and comprise of Callum Litchfield (vocals, ukulele, keys), Iain Gillespie (vocals, bass), Nicholas Peters (guitar) and George Berry (drums).
They have been described as ukulele indie punk as well as emo-pop. The band recently signed to American indie label Counter Intuitive and are set to release their debut label EP ‘Keep Me Safe.’ This release is about attempting to get better after falling apart, seeing the light after periods of mental strife, and knowing that your friends will be there for you no matter what.
This extended play opens with `It Gets Better` which really had me in mind of `Five Years Time by sadly departed folk rock band Noah and the Whale. This is a really captivating feel-good number about rallying around a friend whose going through a hard time mentally. The superb chorus of “it gets better in such small doses. curb every neurosis, you’ll barely notice, there’s a drug we can give you for that my friend, but first stay for tea, it did wonders for me” was delightfully harmonised in an almost a cappella style towards the end.
There`s some interesting organ snatches throughout `Seaside` which is offered up at a much faster pace with some intricate guitar chords. A tale of a seemingly one-sided love affair, where the narrator will do almost anything to ensure their partner will notice them.
`Ibuprofen` although being a medication that is used for treating pain, fever, and inflammation is used here in a way of asking friends to become the cure for the pain their going through, the storyteller`s Ibuprofen. A number that musically enjoys some jangly guitar riffs but slows down at times to express the repeated statement of “keep me safe”
`Laugh / Cry` is the nearest these guys come to a melancholic offering. A stop start sort of tune that ebbs and flows and seems to run the variety of emotions associated with the title.
I would say that Bears In Trees are a bit of a marmite band and I can understand that their constant cheerfulness could grind on people but although I don`t like marmite, i certainly enjoyed Bears In Trees and their ‘Keep Me Safe’ EP. Depression and mental health aren`t easy subjects to address but these fellas tackle them in a subtle, thoughtful, and not a preachy way.
I`d say Bears in Trees share happy-go-lucky indie rock with Good Rhymes for Bad Times.
Rating 8.5 /10
