Peer Validated

Pictured: Yeah, no one’s ever questioned this guy’s love for National Geographic.

It sounds fairly trite, the idea of a band writing its music based on National Geographic articles from the 50s and 60s, but Portland, OR’s Bark Hide and Horn finds its inspiration from these little gems. Articles written about a grizzly’s great revenge on the hunters who killed his mate, honey ants slaving their lives away, a spider who fell in love with his insect-food, and so on and so forth, all become ideas for folkie rock songs. Somewhere in the vicinity of Conor Oberst’s lighter work with a Sufjan-ish style for arrangement, Bark Hide and Horn is mostly soft and careful, floating around acoustic guitar and very prominent lead trumpet parts, but they’re never afraid to throw in a few surprises (spoiler alert: electro-pop parts) to keep our interest.

Bark Hide and Horn - Treasure of the Everglades

Treasure of the Everglades is about two snails breeding. It was instantly good for me, and I think it can be good for you too. Snail breeding, that is.