Grizzly Bear - Horn of Plenty

When Simple told me he had a surprise for me...oh me; I not expected Grizzly Bear’s latest disc, Horn of Plenty. Needless to say, the cd was a surprise not only because it was enclosed in a fur case with a bear's scribbled face, but because I was expecting it to be furious or noisy or even unpleasant…because that is what you think of when you imagine grizzly bears, true? Another reason you should judge a book by its cover. Once inside, Horn of Plenty smothered me in a bear hug of resplendent sound on all 14 tracks. The brainchild of Edward Droste, he recruited the talents of Christopher Bear and Chris Taylor for vocal and live electronics duties, respectively. The duo’s musical skills are uniquely amazing, as uncovered on such tracks as “Eavesdropping,” “La Duchess Anne,” and “Fix It,” a tune that emerges into groovy beats near the end but appreciated for the spontaneous episode...and short teaser-upshot. The music was the perfect soundtrack to a quiet evening at home, providing lush landscapes of a reverie, lithe acoustic guitars, and finely tuned vocals from Bear and Droste that require nothing less than your imagination and attention. Horn of Plenty is highly recommended by yours truly. Go to the band’s website to hear demos, live recordings, and to further support the band, purchase it! Available on Kanine Records. [www.grizzly-bear.net]