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Review: Grizzly Bear - Shields [Album]

Warp Records // "electronic wizardry contained within the whole album"

by phatty73, September 26th, 2012 and has been Read 4488 times.
Last Edited by: Chris MUG5 Maguire September 27th, 2012.

Sheffield born Warp Records started life as a pioneer for electronic music releases back in 1989. Amongst its early releases were works by seminal Acid Bleep masters and inventors of Intelligent Dance Music LFO, Aphex Twin and The Black Dog. However, in a similar move to XL Recordings (who started life in much the same vein) Warp has shifted and diversified into 'juggling' other genres.

One of the labels diversities is Brooklyn, New York's Grizzly Bear. Now on their fourth long player Shields this quartet have their sound described in a pretty much non-exhaustive list, for example...

Indie rock, indie folk, folk rock, psych-folk, neo-psychedelia, psychedelic rock, psychedelic pop, experimental, experimental rock, art rock, lo-fi, etc etc. et ad infinitum.

Take your pick from any of those monikers above because they all describe at least one of the bands many influences. But, don't stop there, add to that list Glam Rock and Dream Pop, in fact to be honest you could just run and run with comparisons and pigeon-holes as Shields is 10 tracks of indisputable but indescribable beauty.



From the warped (no pun intended) guitar and cymbal bashing opening of lead track 'Sleeping Ute' which has the band in full San Franciscan 70's psych mode via the glam rocking Mud-esque 'A Simple Answer' ending on the 7 minutes of slow building epic 'Sun In Your Eyes.' Shields displays a rhythm section that makes itself heard (and felt), vocals that massage the eardrums into a shuddering eargasm, guitars that grab the toes and refuse to let go until they at least tap. The electronic wizardry contained within the whole album blend seamlessly with the natural instruments, complimenting the compositions rather taking over with synthesised squeals. That's the only way I can describe the indescribable so have a listen via our embed above.

Grizzly Bear then, hard to know what they do, but lots of fun trying.

Shields is out now