Earlier this year, a viral video surfaced of a coyote and badger traveling together and forming a friendship. In the video, there’s a moment where the fox looks at the badger as if to say “you ready?” And the badger seems to respond “you know it, pal” before they both skitter out of view of the camera. Adorable? Well, yes, but it’s also quite affecting as a union of unlikely partners. That’s the charm of the new group Mango Cat, which pairs dream pop auteur Bailey Crone (Bathe Alone) with Sean Bryant of folk rockers Big Brutus. Together, the duo crafts vibrant and emotional pieces of Technicolor pop—or dream folk as the two like to call it.
On “Hello,” the first offering from their forthcoming full length, Bryant’s earnest vocals are balanced against driving rhythms and Crone’s intricate, world-building guitars. They complement each other in all sorts of infectious ways as their spellbinding melodies echo into the distance. While the music bursts with dynamic richness, the lyrics suggest an elliptical story about connectedness and finding hope and strength within our friends and family.
“Also known as Hola in Spanish, Hello is a hopeful, optimistic song about celebrating life and knowing that it’s ok to celebrate yourself and the people around you,” the duo shared in a statement. “Hello was the first song Sean and Bailey wrote together when they started their collaboration, and it felt like a fitting introduction to the band’s music. Bailey had the instrumental on her Soundcloud, and Sean heard it and was so taken aback by its complexity, he wrote over it before even introducing himself to Bailey. Bailey must’ve liked it, cause she agreed to make more music. What a win for Sean.”
Give it a listen below.
More Info
Bandcamp: mangocat.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @mangocatband
Instagram: @mangocatband
SoundCloud: @mangocatband