★★
Credit where credit is due: Bear’s Den are great musicians who make a terrific sound as a collective, demonstrating poise and craft in their musicianship – but their latest offeringRed Earth & Pouring Rainis, quite frankly, not that great.
Sure, the Brits’ alternative rock sound is pleasant enough, but it’s been overproduced and drowned in synthesizers that echo ’80s romance movies, and feel the same way: cheesy. This is particularly true of the title track – lead singer Andrew Davie demonstrates a lovely mellow tone in his vocals, but the heavy presence of the retro leaves the song lacking as an opener.
The album’s 12 tracks are laid out across an hour that lasts an eternity, with lyrics often lacking any imagination and originality. The saving grace is ‘Roses On A Breeze’, which boasts a rich echoey tone from Davie and a percussive build that swells to envelop the song.
The only moment of shock or surprise is the one swear word deployed in ‘Napoleon’, which is just about the only element of the record that makes your ears prick up with attention.
It’s OK on the overall, but the album needed something to shake it up rather than becoming an endless ballad of loves lost and won.
