/Rock-Pop/British / European

BAUER
starting again

Release Date: 04/02/2008
Previously released: 21/01/2008

"remember how we stood in the rain - i feel as though it's starting again." bauer have re-bottled the magic from 2006's ep with their new single 'starting again'. containing the brand new songs 'starting again' and 'the lights go down', they have continued their track-record of only ever creating songs that would be a career high for others. like a bolt of lightening from a blue sky, there was a happening the first time bauer hit the studio. it followed a successful stint supporting snow patrol, the ordinary boys and stephen fretwell among others. working with record producer steve power (james, the charlatans, robbie williams) you knew the result would be good, given their bewitching live performances - but did we have any right to expect it would be that magical? the first bauer ep was released to rapturous acclaim by fans and industry alike and promptly sold out all 1000 physical copies (it continues to sell on itunes). stacked with stunning tunes such as 'connected' and 'don't you move', bauer had arrived. blissfully, 'starting again' maintains the same infectious blend of 80's synth pop and ultra-melodic song-smithery that makes bauer stand out from the crowd and keeps their momentum rolling forward. greg matthews fallen-angel vocals and mikey's insouciant guitars summon the sublime, and the song is driven with great optimistic urgency by rhythm hub neil treppas (bass) and lee bradbury (drums). 'the lights go down', by contrast, is their first dramatic ballad and shows yet another side of the band. this time, greg's astonishing vocal is backed by a sparse arrangement of piano and acoustic guitar that simply leaves you glowing once the strings begin to swell. nothing this infectiously melodic has been heard for a long time. for every influence, bauer are a band of our time. for treading the line so skillfully between indie and pop, alan mcgee made sure bauer were played on radio 1. but the band haven't stopped there; making fullest use of itunes, myspace and facebook and with almost an album's worth of tracks on reverbnation, they are working to ensure their music is available to the audience it was destined for.