Boy & Bear release long lost songs on new EP

By KELLY O’HARE

Ten years ago, Australian indie rock band, Boy & Bear released their second studio album, Harlequin Dream, which reached # 1 on the ARIA albums chart in its debut week, well and truly placing Boy & Bear on the map as a serious Aussie force to be reckoned with. Over a decade later, Boy & Bear’s legendary album lives on.

Lost songs from their famed Harlequin Dream recording period have been recovered from the depths of their studio archives and revived. They’ve been included on a freshly nostalgic EP, Lost Dreams, leading off with brand new single, “Abraham”, a foot-stomping whimsically rhythmic anthem sure to take many listeners on a trip down memory lane.

The title, Lost Dreams, references the lost singles originally intended for their Harlequin Dream album. These tracks, which seemingly disappeared into the void, never actually escaped the confines of the studio.

 “Just like the growing folder of songs we never finish; I don’t think we ever thought they would see the light of day. We couldn’t find the files for the songs,” Killian Gavin, vocalist and guitarist of Boy & Bear, reflects.

Yet, fate took a lucky turn in the quest to recover the missing archives. Phil Ek, the mastermind behind the mixing of Harlequin Dream, was able to get the band in touch with the mastering team who, against all odds were able to track down the mastered files from 10 years ago.

The narrative, which began with the unfortunate loss of their finished singles from their Harlequin Dream album, turned into a tale of rediscovery. Apart from new single, “Abraham”, the recovered songs inlcude “Eye Of The Canyon” and “Mexico”.

“It’s like finding an old t-shirt in the bottom of the draw when you move house. Kind of like: wow, remember that!? It brings back memories and feelings from that time,” reflects bass player David Symes.

In addition to their EP release, Boy & Bear have also announced a multi-city regional tour across Australia from mid-September through to late November, bringing a refreshed set list of old and new tunes.

For tour dates and to purchase Lost Dreams, visit

 www.boyandbear.com