The Bearing
“Big Bang” from the “Big Bang” EP
When a band has a social message, this can lead to great things, but it can also lead to a mess of patronizing rap that’s hard to digest, and musically boring dribble on repetitive beats… Not so here with The Bearing, the brainchild band of Alise Kirtley, a classically trained pianist and composer.
Take this song, “Big Band” from their debut EP, and listen to the amazing layers of vocal harmonies, somewhere between choir work and Queen’s best work, with a certain theatricality that wouldn’t go amiss on Broadway, and you will easily conclude that the message, although present, didn’t trump the song’s musicality and that the emotional content cleverly made into music will get through to anyone listening, even if they don’t understand a word of the English language.
You can hear Alise’s background as a composer and choir arranger and her fearless command of harmony in this song and the others of that amazing EP. Beautifully crafted arrangements, and a willingness to try and blend various genres is brightly on display here, always with a sense of melody that shines through in every song. It works so very nicely to create a thoughtful and thought-provoking collection that will leave you wanting for more and hit replay.
Alise’s voice is strong yet vulnerable at times, she has that kind of classical voice that could do well in a musical, and the band of seasoned musicians is wisely setting back to feature her stunning delivery. To note the band’s Youtube channel that features awesome videos for a few songs, each of them nicely crafted and produced, a labor of love that needs more recognition.
If you’re ready to be surprised and charmed with solid music and willing to think instead of doze off with your headphones on, I highly recommend this EP and this band!
Verdict: 5/5 beards
You can buy this song and the EP on Bandcamp: https://the-bearing.bandcamp.com/releases