On her ambitious fourth album, the L.A.-based singer/songwriter directly addresses difficulty, pain, empathy and transformation in funk, blues, and soul.
On this album, Bears in Trees sound more polished and expansive than in their earlier ventures, but they maintain the unique flavor of an indie “dirtbag boyband” drawing from a wide variety of inspirations. Singers Callum Litchfield and Iain Gillespie’s differing voices complement each other well, touching on themes of mental health and love earnestly and with a sense of humor. The album smoothly blends styles ranging from sentimental strings to defiant electric guitar to bright ukulele into a heartwarmingly honest production. - Hannah Schwartz