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The Bees "Listening Man"

Monday, January 8, 2007

The Bees are probably still best known for their cover of Os Mutantes’ “A Minha Menina,” and fittingly so. The Mutantes were avowed fanatics of American psychedelic rock, folk, and avant-garde, but filtered through uniquely Brazilian sensibilities, and emerging as perhaps the most gonzo member of the Tropicalia movement (although Tom Ze might have a beef with that statement). In other words, the Mutantes are the perfect band to serve as Obi-Wan for the Bees, who lack the revolutionary and culturally-specific aspects of the Mutantes, but have done a fine job musically, especially on Octopus, of collaging together the previously-collaged. Consider album highlight “Listening Man” (mp3), which exquisitely nails the American R&B influence in 1960s and 70s Jamaican pop music. The song starts with two plaintive, rising trumpets over a minimal, patient percussion bed; the kind of Southern grace that would fit perfectly on a Stax slow-burner or Willie Mitchell/Al Green collaboration. The rocksteady beat—complete with Hammond organ and hand percussion—soon emerges, followed by a high, crisp entreaty to a less-than-forthcoming lover. The song then moves to a deft reimagining of the most soulful, langourous moments of Desmond Dekker, Jimmy Cliff, and early Wailers, all of whom managed to transmit a world of hurt while projecting a charming insouciance that seemed to belie their words.

Octopus comes out on Astralwerks in two months. Pre-order it here.

(and sorry this is so late, but the WalMart-level blogging software I use decided to not work again this morning)

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