Bearcraft - Yestreen
Review by Jack Foley
BEARCRAFT’S debut LP Yestreen is a curious oddity that’s hard to pinpoint. There were moments we kind of liked… but others that just plain irritated.
But then that’s hardly surprising given that it knowingly combines spectral synths and electro beats with pagan, scientific, philosophical and English folk themes. It’s a deliberately offbeat collection of songs that fully display the surreal extent of Bearcraft’s imagination, while indulging in his love of ‘80s laced synth pop.
And yet ironically, there’s traces of Damon Albarn in his vocals, too… counter-balanced with a little Hot Chip here, some Pet Shop Boys there, and even some Human League.
There’s even a finely honed sense of radio friendly melody at times… which helps to get the album off to a solid start with Hero Man Gets To The Castle and the deeply chirpy Out On A Limb.
The former is, in Bearcraft’s own words, an “homage to a typical plot used in many classic ‘80s computer games… our hero gets to the castle, battles the minions, defeats the “final boss” and rescues the maiden”.
“I liked putting this to a song because it evokes medieval imagery via ‘80s computer gaming,” he adds.
It’s quirky and appealing… much like the kooky Out On A Limb, which includes woozy synth patterns and charming lyrics such as “I looked up to see her sneezing on me”.
Having enthralled with the two openers, however, Bearcraft tends to push the limits of how far his quirkiness can take him. Broadswords, for instance, suffers from anaemic synths (or blips) and a cheesy, almost Human League delivery that sounds too dated, and Coming Unstuck finds Bearcraft literally doing that with a dreary, stripped down ballad. It’s not his finest attribute.
Former single The Werewolf does, however, restore the album’s fortunes to promising by balancing hypnotic drum patterns, Gallic disco basslines and cool, disembodied vocals around a tale that takes the listener from animalistic primal urges, through folk devils, to a contemporary scene of dancing in soaring temperatures and midnight sunshine.
Polly’s Garden, meanwhile, ponders the concept of ‘transhumanism’ (the ability to upload oneself to a computer and exist in another medium that is non biological) through the use of Lewis Caroll imagery and the juxtaposition of analogue guitar riffs with digital sonics. It’s extremely trippy, but it somehow works… another case of Bearcraft challenging expectation and getting away with it – just!
The Omega Point then kicks things up a notch with a genuinely energetic synth-pop blast with indie-pop elements and a catchy chorus.
But alas, the album then peters out a bit once more… with even title track Yestreen failing to really recapture the curiosity value and quality of its best moments. Put together, too, the sound becomes a little restrictive unless spectral synths, washed out vocals and ’80s sensibilities are your thing.
Good in small doses, Yestreen does tend to try the patience over the long haul… but there’s certainly hope for the future.
Download picks: Hero Man Gets To The Castle, Out On A Limb, The Werewolf, Polly’s Garden, The Omega Point
Track listing: