Bear Mountain is the brainchild of BC-based Ian Bevis and Kyle Statham. Ian’s twin brother, Greg, later joined the band.  The opening track, “Two Step”, on Bear Mountain’s debut disc, XO hurls out a happy upbeat disco mood that gains momentum through the 7-track project.  I wasn’t expecting so much dance-synth but was pleasantly surprised. It reminded me of a more subdued or spacey version of Scissor Sisters. Listening to this with headphones while toiling away in my office was the perfect remedy to keep me humming joyfully to the end of an otherwise dull day. By track 3, “Survive” the band dishes out long sweeping orchestral soundtracks. The lush deep house textures elicit  bright splashes of imagery for ears and imagination with multiple layers of electro-tropical, electronic backbeats and haphazard vocals. It turns out the latest band member, Kenji Rodrigues serves as the band’s visual creative director manipulating visuals, lights and images during their live performances. 

Bear Mountain is most definitely a band to be seen as well as heard.  Recommended if you like dancing.

By Anne-Marie Brugger
Dec 13, 2013