Mouse Deer is the alter-ego of Holly McIntosh, a multi-instrumentalist living in Bristol who produces lo-fi power pop songs about coming of age in a run-down seaside town fuelled by heartache, hope, escapism, old LPs and cups of tea.
Upbeat, intelligent and sometimes wistful, the hooky melodies embrace lyrics that touch on themes of disappointment, determination, frustration and freedom, all underpinned by intricate harmony and tricky chord changes. The sound harks back to the itchy hyper-pop of early Todd Rundgren and XTC, with lush swoops of Court and Spark – era Joni Mitchell and warm, complex textures that owe much to alt-rock pioneers Sufjan Stevens, Loney Dear and Grizzly Bear.
Praise for The Mouse Deer EP (released 12/12/11)
"You can’t help but like the five songs here, and why would you not want to? Catchy and upbeat but never trite or formulaic, always with just enough of the unexpected to keep you on your toes" - Robert Haymon-Collins, Music Always Gives Me A Lift
http://magmalblog.com/2012/01/01/mouse-deer-ep/
"For a debut EP this is a very polished effort which has highlighted that Holly McIntosh has a great talent for writing and putting together songs that will no doubt bring joy to many people’s lives." - Steve Tay, A Musical Priority
http://www.amusicalpriority.co.uk/tracks_mousedeer_mousedeerep.html
"Catchy and poppy and instantly likable, yet spiritedly unpredictable. The moment you think you’ve caught the tune or the structure, it slips away like a wet bar of soap." - Leah Pritchard, Venue
http://www.venue.co.uk/music-cd-reviews-m/14376-mouse-deer
"Foreground’ above all is a left-field hit in anyone’s book, with a melody as keen and blissful as a dog’s face out a car window" - Marco Rossi, Happening magazine
http://happeningmagazine.blogspot.com/2012/01/record-review-mouse-deer.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook