Bear & Moose Release First Half of Double Album "Bear/Moose," "Bear" to be Released November 8, 2011

July 21, 2011 - PRLog -- Portland: home of The Shins, Fleet Foxes, Elliott Smith, and Modest Mouse. This fertile atmosphere of natural beauty, creative culture and audiences open to experimental energy has delivered another unique combination: Bear & Moose. Bear & Moose is Eric Meuller (singer/songwriter/guitar) and Simon Lucas (percussion/back-up vocals). The duo, whose partnership seemed fated pack a huge punch despite the band only consisting of drums and guitar. "After we formed the band, we have had a secret deep space connection being able to blow audiences away with only two instruments- drums and a guitar," says Mueller. The story behind the name gives a little insight into Mueller and Lucas' headspace. "I always thought that if there were two animals that were going to get along and rule the Pacific Northwest Forest the bear and moose would be the ones to join forces and kick ass," says Mueller. Their sound which Mueller describes as "upbeat rock n roll with a splash of confusion to make it interesting," is a joyous clash of ringing guitar, Lucas' expert stick work and Mueller's often ecstatic vocals. The first half of the duo's debut double album, Bear/Moose, engineered by Justin Phelps (Mars Volta, Cake, Dead Kennedys), will be released on November 8, 2011.

Bear & Moose capture the power of their high energy, indefatigable live shows on Bear/Moose. "Since there are two of us and we have such a wide range, I thought it would be fitting to present as many sides of the band as possible," Mueller explains. The duo went into Cloud City Sound with Phelps and cut the 24 songs on Bear/Moose in three days of intense recording. The album was bounced to half-inch tape to get more of an analog sound and open up the low end, since there's no bass player. The result is a bracing sonic assault that showcases the band's keen balance of melody and invigorating noise.

The tunes on Bear/Moose cover a lot of musical and emotional ground. On the affecting love song "Love Lost Alone", Mueller blends finger picking and distorted power chords to support a delicate, reverb-drenched vocal. Lucas plays a double time rhythm against the tune's considered melody. Lucas drops a hint of samba into his percussive approach to "Run" while Mueller adds a simple rippling guitar figure that intensifies the song's tension. The bridge opens up with big chiming guitar chords as Lucas drops into a straightforward rock backbeat. "What We Call Home" drifts into singer/songwriter territory with Mueller's delicate, echoing vocal and minimal guitar drifting quietly along until it devolves into a noisy coda; folk metal perhaps? Other standouts include the clanging R&B of "I'm Back", where Mueller's vocals suggest Van Morrison, "Wear the Wolf", which blends 50s rock with 90s indie rock and the sort disjointed post-modern excursion and "Poor Man Blues", marked by Mueller's grinding chords, stratospheric guitar noise and Lucas' inspired cymbal crashes. "The album is alternative, experimental, psychedelic, bluesy and progressive with a folky, garagey feel," Mueller states. "I'm proud to share this music with people because it was made with a lot of heart and soul and rocks like mad."

Mueller and Lucas first met several years ago at Humboldt State University in California. Mueller was studying bass and was impressed by Lucas' stick work, although the two didn't play together that weekend. Fast forward to Portland in 2009. "I started Bear & Moose to explore the possibilities of loud rock guitar," Mueller says. "Bear & Moose came from a song I wrote. I always thought that if two animals were going to get along and rule the Pacific Northwest, it would be a bear and moose. I'd just finished playing a gig in Portland when my drummer told me he was done and moving to San Francisco. I remember being half drunk, packing up my gear and jamming it into my Honda when I saw the familiar face of Simon Lucas watching me. I said, 'Dude! Remember me? Want to be my new drummer?'"

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