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A Band of Bees

For a band so incredibly diverse and talented, The Bees have managed to dodge mainstream success and put out three LPs of relevant pop that criss-crosses genres from 60s psych, reggae-dub, pop, soul, and pretty much every other influence you can think of while deftly avoiding the chance of label.

Their debut, “Sunshine Hit Me” (2002) earned them a nomination for a Mercury Prize, and they followed up with the more accessible, less culty, but still engrossing “Free the Bees” in 2004 for Virgin Records. “Octopus”, the band’s 3^rd LP was cited as the band’s best work to date, so news of a fourth LP is very much welcomed.

As posted on their website, the band have recently performed at the Glastonbury Festival with a bunch of new material. Earlier this year, the Isle of Wight lads put out a remix compilation featuring one of their tracks as well as tracks by De la Soul, Can, and many more. Last we heard from the Bees, they did a split 7” with San Fransico’s the Mother Hips. “Papa Echo”, their first piece of recorded music since 2007’s Octopus, was released on vinyl and is also available for digital download. It’s streaming below…

The Bees: Papa Echo