Music

Album Review: Sunbear 'Moonbath'

by Melody Lau

For those unfamiliar with Sunbear, this is the project of Toronto singer-songwriter Kate Boothman, Michelle Josef and Ian Russell of local folk darlings One Hundred Dollars. Together, the three-piece enlists the help of Canadian all-stars – beyond just the folk community – which include Blue Rodeo’s Greg Keelor and Mike Boguski, Kathleen Edwards, Julie Fader, Holy Fuck’s Graham Walsh and The Sadies’ Sean Dean. Intrigued yet?

Moonbath marks the second full-length from Sunbear, an airy breeze of folk and country that’s filled with catchy melodies but still an abundance of warmth and soul soaked in the twang of each riff. Though Sunbear’s signature roots and folk atmosphere is evident throughout the record, songs like opening track “Living Dead” emote more of a Julie Doiron-inspired rock track with its beating bass groundwork underneath Boothman’s shy-voiced coos.

Each song varies from swinging sunny tunes (“Moonbath”) to eclectic trippy-country rock anthems (“New Moon”), with Boothman’s voice contrasting from fragile and timid one minute to strong and determined the next. Moonbath plays like a hazy drive through the desert but can also easily transition into a fall playlist staple.

For fans of Canadiana folk, Moonbath is definitely worth a listen and can probably be summed up best to Torontonians as a Dakota Tavern band – warm, intimate and potentially your best friend.