The Bees - Octopus' (Virgin) Released 16/03/07

The Bees are back – since producing their first Mercury nominated album ‘Sunshine Hit Me’ in their shed back in 2003, followed by a more commercially orientated second ‘Free The Bees’ a year later, the bluesy Isle Of Wight wind-downers have gone back to their roots, taken time to sit back and assess their objectives, and recorded their most anticipated album yet.

Produced in their relaxed Isle of Wight homelands at The Steamroom, their new basement studio, you get the feeling The Bees have been itching to rekindle how it all began from producing their first and best album to date in their shed. And yes, this is certainly the vibe from ‘Octopus’, as the laid back blues, hippy 70’s rock, and reggae melodies are luxuriously complemented by their Beach Boys style vocals.

Check out opening track and first single ‘Who Cares What The Question Is’, a chugging bluesy number that would sit pretty nicely in The Beatles 'Sergeant Pepper..' collection as the steamboat beats are layered with lead singer Paul Butlers lyrics “Who knows what the question is when all your love is in messages”.  We can then look forward to the warm summer months to come as we transform into a 70’s summer festival to enjoy the blissful folk-rock ‘Love In The Harbour’ somewhere near to Neil Young’s 'Ohio' as you lay back and enjoy the sweet summer breeze.
 
Arguably the track of the album, and sure to be a contender for track of the year however is ‘Left Foot Stepdown’ as its jagged ska-reggae tip keyboards merge into a chorus that lets you break out into your own personal rendition of the left foot stepdown (make what you want of it) as Butler sings “if your being held back in the crowd you can do the left foot stepdown”.  Then in true Bees style midway through the album you hear ‘Listening Man’, where they never fail to pull one track out of the bag that you can literally lay unmoved transfixed into a daydream imagining thoughts of beauty and yonder (think ‘I Love You’ and ‘This Town’). The track is soulful, lazy, and inspirational, and again perfectly fitting for the upcoming summer months.

Do yourself a favour, when this album is released, purchase it and dream of the summer months to come and it will make these chilly days feel all the more warmer.  And then when the summer arrives, put it in your car, put in your garden, and enjoy!