Xiong Mao by BEAR CAT
Click above to download 'Red Panda Blues' for free!
"This self-released, Moldy Peachesesque gem is the year’s best indie pop release. This Auckland, New Zealand-based duo rocks without pretense, and they get extra points for writing an entire album about a panda." - Reverb, official Denver Post Music Blog
Auckland, New Zealand. Boy meets girl while working together at a record store. Boy knows four chords, Josie instinctively harmonises. They put songs on the internet. They are all about pandas.
Taking a name from the Chinese words for 'panda' ('Xiong Mao', or 'Bear Cat' in English), they soon found their two piece pop band being asked to play actual real shows around the country, venturing as far South as chilly Dunedin (over 3/4 of the way to Antarctica!) and back home opening the curtains for touring acts like Andrew Bird and Sufjan Stevens labelmate Half-handed Cloud.
In 2009 they were bizarrely top five finalists in a nationwide MTV band competition. They then released debut album Xiong Mao.
The band are now steadily diversifying their subject matter to encompass various other important subjects such as sharks and listening to I Saw The Sign while crushing at the ice skating rink.
For any media/blog inquiries – please email Bear Cat directly through the contact button to the right of the album art.
Tracklist
| 1. | Panda I Love You | 2:06 |
| 2. | B/W Hair | 3:38 |
| 3. | Red Panda Blues | 3:43 |
| 4. | New Zealand Adopt This Panda | 4:28 |
| 5. | City Beat | 3:38 |
| 6. | Picture | 1:25 |
| 7. | You Must Escape | 3:38 |
| 8. | Set, Set, Set My Eyes On Fire | 4:02 |
Credits
Dave and Dan co-produced it in their bedrooms. Dan sang and played guitars/assorted dinky toy instruments, Jocee sang lots and played some piano, Hayden and Roxie played some horns, Romelli and Johanna played some strings, Ben and Alex and Dave's little brother played some drums, Dave played some bass, mixed and engineered all the bits that sound like they're recorded properly.
