Xiong Mao

Formed by Chopper Dan and Jocee Tuck in 2006, Bear Cat have grown from bedroom pop origins to play shows with the likes of Chicago's acclaimed Andrew Bird, Sufjan Stevens labelmate Halfhanded Cloud and Brooklyn's Matt & Kim. They featured on the 'Awesome Feeling II' compilation and were one of five national finalists in the MTV Kickstart competition.

And now they're releasing an album called 'Xiong Mao', which literally means 'Bear Cat' in Chinese. It features eight pop songs about pandas self-produced and recorded with friend Dave Parker in their bedrooms. 'Xiong Mao' is best listened to on headphones while floating in a pit filled with coloured balls, like the ones they used to have at Georgie Pie. After a two year on and off recording period, "Xiong Mao's" track list encompasses casiotones, Hammond organ, saxophone, violins, trumpets, triangle, omnichord, typewriter, melodihorn, harmonica, glockenspiel and more.

With such stirring ideas, melodies and instruments it's surely not too long before there is a revolution in the music world. Pretty soon there will be literally millions of panda pop bands, at which point Bear Cat are planning to start playing panda metal. Oh boy, the possibilities!