...Munchy the Bear, the debut full-length from Compass, is not only a concept album, but an ambitious one at that. The album opens with a countdown to nuclear apocalypse, replete with the sonic approximation of an atomic blast, and closes with the sound of waves lapping against the beach. Sandwiched between these delimiters are 15 impassioned tracks, instrumental and otherwise, which serve to remind us how close we are, culturally and ideologically, to the halcyon days of Cold War paranoia and the threat of nuclear catastrophe.... - Tiny Mix Tapes
For an album that has been years in the making, Munchy the Bear wastes no time launching with three glorious songs. The happy singalong tune of "Never Live Forever" is something which could easily make any Caribou/Manitoba fan wet: it's infectious, has a moderate amount of unconventional sampling, and is heavy on the drums. Dave Doom flexes his multi-instrumental talented muscles with dulcimer playing on "All the Experiences," a somewhat tribute to George Harrison, while groovy breakbeat drums and cut up melodies come in on the instrumental "Stick Pots and the Bloody Beats," providing pulse to a fantastic echoing guitar riff.... -Brainwashed
In no other decade could a single man cobble together an album using his laptop, taking recordings of friends and musicians whilst he gallivanted around the world. Compass, who is mostly a guy named Dave Doom, wrote and recorded this album in New Hampshire, Lexington, California, Jamaica, Montrealyou get the idea. The result is a patchwork of genres, breakbeats, ideas, melodies, and voiceovers where everything feels like its in flux.
Munchy the Bears hodgepodge, fly-by-night nature does not, thankfully, translate into roughshod, lo-fi sound. On the contrary, Mr. Doom has spic and span production that rivals that of a big label release. This turns out to be the best of artistic choices, as a home-baked atmosphere would have distracted from Dooms effortless skating between electronica, sing-a-longs, shimmering atmospherics, protest marches, and odd ditties recorded via cell phone voicemail.... This highly original album is highly recommended. cdreviews
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Like always it’s a fully improvised live-session. We like to call it the empty battery session recorded at the Private Pyama Party 19-05-2007.
