by James Christopher Monger
Brooklyn, NY-based indie rock outfit Bear in Heaven were formed in 2002 by singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Jon Philpot. The groups penchant for modern, Krautrock-inspired slabs of '70s prog rock has drawn comparisons to everyone from Pink Floyd to Animal Collective. Born and raised in Atlanta, GA, Philpot dabbled in other projects before settling on Bear in Heaven with fellow transplanted Southerners Adam Wills, Sadek Bazaara, and Joe Stickney. The band released its debut EP, Tunes Nextdoor to Songs, in 2004, followed by the seven-track, 43-minute Red Bloom of the Boom in 2007. Beast Rest Forth Mouth appeared in late October of 2009.