music Now before I get too far into this album, let me just say there are no “skip tracks” in listening to this album, but I have to skip a few in writing about it. The French “La Riviere” and equally stunning if completely different “No Moccasins” both bring a sense of variety and complexity. From layered vocals to transcendent piano background, “No Moccasins” in particular paints a picture of the American West that is frankly stunning. The lyrics and even the sound portrays an untamed West of Native culture, a theme that is revisited throughout the album. “Let your heart be the forest guide” is the opening power lyric of “Forest Guide.” This song has a sound that will be familiar to fans of The Lumineers and other like-minded pop folk acts. That's one of the incredible things about this album is its versatility. It seems like one of those albums that can just do anything. Like this group of musicians could cover just about anything from 19th century parlor music to the latest top 40 and seemingly everything in between. The lead vocals on this song have certain adolescent grit to them that makes the song really have staying power. My favorite song on the album, though, is “Catilena Star.” It's a heart-melting track that begins with the Native American affect of drums and whistle, but introduces a truly gorgeous vocal and choral part that is distinctly 21st century. The evident juxtaposition makes the track work in so many ways. The lyrical focus on a sense of the unknown is breathtaking. Just read, “I woke you up in silence somewhere in the rain. Rocking in the balance, washed away the pain. Lost among the mornings I’ve been chasing after me. The truth is that it lingers in the sea.” It continues in similar storytelling fashion. Later in the song when the powerful piano fills the sound I am blown away on every listen. This part is why I say this song is so definitely 21st century. There are a mixture of old and new meeting in the sonic construct here; it is the middle ground where the past and the present meet in a gorgeous musical blend. This is the kind of song that cannot be replicated. It's a contender for song of the year for me and deserves to be known at the highest levels of musical awards. The resonate “My friend, my friend” at the beginning of “Reclaim my place” really sets the tone for the song. It's got this gorgeous ambient distance between the strings and the melodic vocal of the lead singer. The contrast works beautifully with the harmonies, both vocal and string, that fill the rest of the track. Relaxing, dreamlike, and contemplative... this is the kind of track that would be the best on a number of other albums. But here, it's just standard fare. Amazing. There are a variety of reasons that a song can be entertaining, but we don't often talk about meter. We might say a song has a good “beat” but the track, “More” has a 6/8 time signature backed with some Old World accordion and clapping that transports listeners to another time and place. Yet, somehow, there's a distinctly contemporary feel to the overall vibe. I wish I had words for how they've done it, but I assure you it is well done. Part Fiddler on the Roof and part Sergeant Pepper's, it's a delightfully whimsical song from start to finish. “In the Streets” and “Cold like the heart of men” are both soft, sweet, and pack a powerful social message. While “In the Streets” is about homeless children, “Cold...” is a bit less clear about its purpose. I'll take a stab and say that it has to do, broadly, with urban poverty. That said, it seems to be a song with multiple, layered meanings. In both cases, though, the deep and sensitive lyrics are accented by a fulfilling and comforting overall sound. The album ends with the introspective and broadly “sacrificial” song “Stand up.” It brings this remarkable album to a beautiful end. What is most impressive about this album is not the individual songs as stand alone works of art. Rather, this is an album that must be taken together. Having listened to it repeatedly, I constantly find myself pulling out subtleties in both lyrics as well as music. The creators of this art have a welldeveloped sense of deeper meaning in life. Throughout the album, listeners will notice that the lyrics don't have a happy, clappy rhyme to them. Instead, they are prosaic not poetic. That seemingly small difference is part of what characterizes the work of Bears of Legend. This album was released at the very end of 2012, but I'm going to consider it for best albums of 2013. This is a must-listen for fans of St. Paul de Vence and most anyone who enjoys whatever is emerging in the Great Northwest. I'm not sure what's in the water in Seattle and Vancouver right now, but I am sure glad about it! Enjoy, friends, for albums like this do not come along very often.
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