Following an acclaimed debut artist album earlier in the year and sell-out, crowd-surging gigs at the summer’s major festivals, The 2 Bears have sharpened their claws and groomed their fur in anticipation of their latest project, 2 Bears 1 Love.
Born out of a mutual love of house, soundsystem culture and jerk chicken, 2 Bears 1 Love is a Caribbean-flecked mix of brash beats and dutty rhythms, overlaid with Raf’s inimitable gruff vocals. And featuring great hairy pawfuls of original The 2 Bears tracks and remixes.
This 12 inch sampler, limited to 400 copies, compiles four of the juiciest, most succulent cuts from the album; aiming to impart a taste of this thrill a minute ride through the minds of London’s hairiest producer/DJ duo!
The A-side sees two undisputed classics rubbing shoulders in Mood II Swing’s Club remix of Kim English ‘Learn 2 Luv’ and the wonderfully eccentric Pepe Bradock remix of Iz & Diz ‘Mouth’(unreleased #1 is the version).
The flips takes a less nostalgic approach with HMDs remix of ‘To Ardent’ by Black Devil Disco Club - featuring none other than Nancy Sinatra - up first. Understated and slightly spooky, it’s one of the few forays The 2 Bears make into disco on the album and a worthy addition to any crate.
Last is a X-Press 2 remix of an album track The 2 Bears had hanging back. A groovy cut with a slightly acidic edge, it is as yet previously unreleased so just had to be committed to this vinyl.
War is ugly, wax is lovely!
The 2 Bears are Raf Daddy and Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard, two friends who decided to start making music after meeting through a party scene that saw them share deck duties at the legendary Greco-Roman parties. Their first forays in the studio produced both the sublime and the ridiculous, the results of which was their debut album Be Strong – a record that was lauded from everyone to The Guardian and GQ to Q Magazine and Mixmag.
Published: 13th September 2012