Conceived whilst on a journey that took the lead singer through 12 different countries in as many months; and heavily featuring the sound of the flying-v ukulele that much of the EP was written on; Karaoke Bites is the epitome of a summer that everyone in Britain is waiting for. With wonderful ukulele chords and great vocal harmonies; the EP is beautiful. Citing an expansive list of influences that includes Sparklehorse, Grandaddy, and Blur; Beartown Zodiacs sounds is a light indie-folk-pop combination reminiscent of a band-of-the-moment Noah and the Whale.
The title track, Karaoke Bites is a surefire winner. Put simply, its a really well-produced track, with lyrics that are full of mystique and intrigue; beautifully conveying tales from somewhere far east. Coupled with this is a ukulele melody that is both gentle and uplifting; which sits on top of a great electric bass line and other electric guitar riffs that add great depth to the track.
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Another great track, Rosiebird is a perfect demonstration showcase of how great music can be as simple as one man and a ukulele. Starting with A Capella vocals, the track builds in pace as the story told through the lyrics progresses. Helping the track progress is a simple repeating ukulele chord sequence that perfectly accompanies the harmonies that come in at the climax of the song.
The EP is a showcase of a very light, summery sound in a genre that is so popular at the moment its hard to imagine Beartown Zodiac going anywhere but up. Karaoke Bites is a must-listen for fans of Noah and the Whale, Grandaddy, Fleet Foxes and Arcade Fire.
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