Bearsuit - More Soul Than Wigan Casino (Fantastic Plastic)
UK release date: 20 August 2007
Wigan Casino is of course synonymous with the word Soul; a certain kind of Soul it must be said. The kind of thing that Stax would pump out has absolutely nothing to do with what Bearsuit are about. On first listen you could be forgiven for suggesting that what Bearsuit do has no soul at all (you may choose to do this in the voice of a melodramatic priest if you so desire. That's what I did.). You would be wrong of course, so very very wrong.
Bearsuit have plenty of soul, it's just located in a completely place to all those songs about respect, love, and sitting on docks. The music they make is completely unfettered by the trials of life. Not for them the sound of heartbreak, oh no. There is naïve innocence to what Bearsuit do. There's soul here alright, but it's unspoiled and childlike. Put it this way, they offer us lists of favourite crisps (cheese and onion squares) and worst insects (wasp). If they could put glitter on the CD they almost certainly would have.
More Soul...sounds a little like a school fun band having a go at a punk tune while the teacher's out of the room (although that's probably down to the presence of the flutes) but this juxtaposition serves the band well. With a beautifully catchy chorus and raucous chants there's an infectious joy about Bearsuit that can't be ignored. It's rough round the edges certainly, but this is almost instantly lovable indie pop.
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