Bats & Mice

Si hay que hablar de músicos que han sabido crear nuevas formas musicales en cada una de sus entregas y proyectos, entonces es bastante justo mencionar a los miembros de Bats and Mice (y de muchas bandas más, en realidad). ¿Por qué? bueno, la respuesta está en el historial/árbol genealógico musical de de los miembros de la banda y una posterior comparación de los sonidos entre los distintos grupos en los cuales han participado.

Family Tree

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Bats & Mice Rah Bras Hose.Got.Cable Hgual Milemarker Challenger Canadian Rifle Hellbender Weather Taking Pictures The Karl Hendricks Trio Hurl The Speaking Canaries Sterling Denali Lazycain Grip Ambulette Sparta River City High Sleepytime Trio Supine To Sit Young Pioneers Born Against Tim Barry Avail Universal Order Of Armageddon Wrangler Brutes Life's Blood Body Part Skull Kontrol Adam Woodrow The Catholic Church Engine Down Biology Ben Davis Men's Recovery Project Sinking Body Landed Sam McPheeters Sam & Joe Danse Asshole Bad Neighbor Policy Thrones Melvins High On Fire The Whip The Chinese Stars Maximillian Colby 400 Years Groundwork Policy Of 3 R.A.M.B.O.

Como sea, fue el año 2004, en la misma fecha en que lanzaron su EP "A Person Carrying A Handmade Paper Bag Is Considered As A Royal Person", cuando los escuché por primera vez (a B&M, claro). Mi respuesta a esa probada no pudo ser otra que hacer de los murciélagos y los ratones una de mis bandas favoritas.
La metamorfósis musical que experimentaron los músicos es evidente, sin perjuicio de que jamás abandonaron sus raíces post-punk. Así es posible ver como de sonidos agresivos y rapidos, que tuvieron lugar en la era de Maximilian Colby y Sleepytime Trio (entre tantos más), se llega en el 2000 a un oscuro, pausado y experimental primer EP homónimo.
No transcurren dos años cuando la agrupación vuelve a sorprender con el esperado LP debút "Believe it Mammals". En mi opinión, el disco deja algo de lado esa matiz oscura del primer lanzamiento, volviéndose un poco más "despierto" y rockeado; no es que eso no me guste, en absoluto, me parece un excelente disco, pero les va mejor los ritmos más introspectivos.
Después del self-titled es cuando lanzan, según yo, el mejor de sus discos, el ya nombrado "A Person Carrying A Handmade Paper Bag Is Considered As A Royal Person". Cómo no, si les vuelve a picar el bichito de la música grisácea y reflexiva; oh, sí, es que el sonido logrado en este último lanzamiento es casi inconfundible y altamente adictivo; no entiendo mucho a las personas que dicen que el Believe it Mammals es lo mejor de B&M.

Selftitled (2000)

Bats and Mice features 3/4 of Sleepytime Trio (Ben Davis, Jonathan Fuller, Dave Nesmith). After the other Sleepytime member (Drew Ringo) had moved to the west coast for nearly one year, the remainder of Sleepytime decided it was time to begin playing together again. In the meantime, Jonathan had started Engine Down, Dave began the Rah Bras, and Ben tri-founded Milemarker. Longtime friends, the three decided that, despite the distance between the three of them, they must continue playing together. As no surprise, they continue to intrigue us with powerful, intense musicianship.

This CDep features three songs crafted in a softer, less abrasive manner than the members' other bands, crafted with more attention to vocal melody and space. Almost subdued, but surprisingly powerful, this CD is guaranteed to find its place in heavy rotation among the lovers of the same style of piano and melody that create bands like Three Mile Pilot, Radiohead, and Sunny Day Real Estate. (Lovitt)

Believe it mammals (2002)

Believe It Mammals, the debut full-length by Bats & Mice, is an ambitious work that eagerly explores a multiplicity of dynamics, moods, rhythms, and timbres. For those who like to keep score, Bats & Mice contains members of Four Hundred Years, Sleepytime Trio, Maximillian Colby, Milemarker, Rah Bras, Men's Recovery Project, and a whole cavalcade of outfits you read about in Punk Planet a few years ago. But this quartet out of Richmond, Virginia, forgets the brash, vitriolic excursions of their earlier projects and instead zeroes in on instrumental interplay and unforgettable hooks.

Because three members of Bats & Mice share lead and backing vocals, Believe It Mammals amply features a wide spectrum of deliveries and harmonies. From lazy and languid to towering and animated, Bats & Mice's interlaced voices appeal for repeated listens. But the album is no collection of Gregorian chants. The crisp, regimented percussion and determined guitar work provide the ideal complement to the haunting warmth of the vocalists.

Bats & Mice intends to dash the expectations of listeners who anticipate "ex-members of Band X" to fit the mold of Band X, version 2.0. Believe It Mammals is an avenue of expression intent on capturing moments both intriguing and resounding. Lush vocals and intricate instrumentation work in concert to create captivating musicianship that far and away escapes simply being called "pretty and loud." (Lovitt)

A Person Carrying A Handmade Paper Bag is Considered As A Royal Person (2004)

With their new CDep, A Person Carrying A Handmade Paper Bag is Considered As A Royal Person, Bats & Mice have fully realized their potential and produced a work that is invigorating and fresh. Originally started as a side project between three members of Sleepytime Trio, the group released their first, self-titled CDep. When Jonathan Fuller left the band, Ben Davis and David NeSmith recruited Ash Bruce and Daron Hollowell, formerly of Four Hundred Years, and released their first full-length, Believe It Mammals. Hollowell and Bruce left the band in 2003 and are currently concentrating on Delegate, their newest project. With the drummer position vacant, Davis and NeSmith welcomed Luke Herbst as the permanent replacement.

A Person Carrying A Handmade Paper Bag is Considered As A Royal Person possesses a clean, polished sound reflecting a band that has pursued a leaner sound. Now more fitted and crisp,the CDep's four songs pop and crackle with irresistible energy and verve. The intricate vocal stylings and versatile ranges of Davis and NeSmith continue to astound listeners, while Herbst's experience as a drummer in a variety of genres ranging from garage rock to dark, crushing metal lays an essential foundation for the pieces and adds a propulsive, driving element to them. As a result of meticulous song writing and critical ears, Bats & Mice have crafted a sound that is barely controlled and imminently memorable.

Bats & Mice have performed with such acclaimed bands as Fugazi, Moldy Peaches, Ted Leo, Engine Down, Q and not U, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Rainer Maria, and Dead Meadow. The release of A Person Carrying A Handmade Paper Bag is Considered As A Royal Person coincides with Bats & Mice 2004 Spring European Tour. With a solidified line-up, Bats & Mice plan to continue short tours throughout 2005 and will continue work on a full-length that promises to expand the dynamic sounds hinted at by this abbreviated CDep. (Lovitt)

Self Titled + Believe It Mammals + A Person Carrying A Handmade Paper Bag Is Considered As A Royal Person

Mirrors:
Bats and Mice - Bats and Mice (EP) [2000]
http://rapidshare.com/files/81602389/Bats.rar

Bats & Mice - Believe it Mammals [2002]:
http://rapidshare.com/files/81605558/and.rar

Bats & Mice - A Person Carrying a Handmade Paper Bag is Considered as a Royal Person (EP) [2004]:
http://rapidshare.com/files/81614967/Mice.rar