Next
band answering our questionnaire is...
Me and the Bees! You know when a band is more than just their tunes, more than how they sing & play their instruments, more than how they hide & show their influences, more than what they say in the lyrics, more than the sum of their members... When a group, just HAS it. That something, that special, genuine, something that makes you go back to their tunes. Once and again... Does it makes sense? Love them.
These Go to 11!
Me and the Bees
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| The Bees conquering SXSW |
A band named after a
The Softies' song surely was going to catch my attention. Friends Esther Margarit and Eli Molina began this story by middle 2000s around their personal adventures and day-to-day life. The amateurish, unpretentious affair kept evolving until 2008, when two videos uploaded on MySpace got the attention of Hans Krüger (Montreal Studios), immediately asking them to record some tunes. Next turn of events came that same year when Artur Estrada (Nueva Vulcano, Aina) convinced them to play at a show at Sant Adrià. Demos were recorded, and the increasing gigs demanded a more stable line-up, so Verónica Alonso and Carlos Leoz (Half Foot Outside) completed the band. The quartet signed with
La Castanya in 2009 and, in a meteoric jump, only a year after arrived debut LP "Fuerza Bien",
with gigs, critic praise and single "Cleopatra" following. Think on K and Sarah Records, Guided by Voices, Pavement,
vital, carefree, golden lo-fi indiepop. Although Eli left the band to focus on her also exciting project
Fighter Pillow, the now trio of Bees are back in this 2014 with sophomore album "
Mundo Fatal" scheduled for this May. Needless to say,
dying to hear it.
Here we go!
1. First record that you bought (be honest)
Carlos Leoz: "Master of Puppets",
Metallica.
Esther Margarit: Honestly, I'm incapable of remembering the first record I bought, but for sure one of the first was the Vértigo compilation, the original.
Verónica Alonso: Michael Jackson's "Dangerous". I had to order it by catalogue. No record shops in my hometown...
C: First concert...don’t remember, probably Jugos Lixiaviados. Last concert was Red Kross.
E: Jajaja! Can't remember first concert either, but I do remember the 98' Dr. Music Festival where I got blown out with Beastie Boys,
Pulp,
Bod Dylan... among many others. Last one was just a couple of days ago, Furguson and Traams at Sidecar.
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| Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! |
V: First one was...Celtas Cortos, and last one has been, thank god!, Dead Meadow
3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)
C: Army of Lovers “We Stand United”
E: Wouldn't know where to begin...
V: Linkin´ Park....I am sorry
4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
C: Spectrum's ”Soul Kiss (Glide Divine)”, transparent gateofold edition with green liquid.
E: Have a special fondness for a Triffids singles compilation (early singles) that was a gift a friend gave me years ago.
V: My L supraphonic snare drum!
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| Las Ruinas, heavy-pop & killer lyrics |
5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)
C: Las Ruinas lyrics.
E: I'm more of devastating verses, but if I had to choose one of my favourite bands because of their lyrics i would be
Las Ruinas without a doubt.
V: “Going Blind” but if Melvins are performing it much better
6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
C: Thurston Moore.
E: Jad Fair, Kim deal, Robert Pollard, Kim Gordon, Calvin Johnson, Georgia Hubley, Beyonce, etc..
V: Neil Young, Steve Albini and PJ Harvey
7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
C: Arthur Lyman “Yellow Bird” album.
E: I'll tell you just the one that comes to my mind right now: "Beat Happening", from Beat Happening.
V: The Make-up, "In Mass Mind".
8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both)
C: Movie: Marco Ferreri’s “La Grande Bouffe”
E: Fanzine: "Chilena Comando".
V: Both! Last book I read was John Waters, "Role Models!", and film...maybe the one I am never tired of "The Great Gatsby" (but the old one!!!
no remakes could be better )
C: "Fun in summertime (the Watterparties)"
E: "Spiderman (Silly Walk)"
V: Maybe..."Love and Fun", new one in the new record
10. What’s does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
C: Indie=not mainstream music.
E: The one that wants to be a cowboy but prefers dancing (literally "El que quiere ser cowboy pero prefiere bailar", the blogger is completely speechless after this answer).
V: It means an independent way of expression in all types of art.
11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
C: No need to know...
E: I'll have a puppy.
V: I will be 43 so I guess doing the same but having ten years more of experience : )
Zillion thanks Bees!
Knife Pleats. My beloved Rose Melberg is back! The indie-pop legend (The Softies, Go Sailor, Tiger Trap) has a new and extremely exciting project, the latest from a pivotal artist after the recent Brave Irene and PUPS, aside of going solo. The leading part of a quartet that includes Kaity McWhinney and Tracey Vath from Love Cuts, plus drummer Gregor Phillips, Melberg formed the group because she had a new batch of songs that she felt really needed a full band treatment. What a wise choice! 'Hat Bark Beach', released by our friends at Jigsaw Records on late September is a killer. Fuzzed pop, joyful and alive with Rose's trademark vocals, her unmatched talent for melodies and vocal harmonies. What a comeback! 
La Luz. Close ride from British Columbia to Seattle, WA,, to meet this quartet formed in the summer of 2012 and leaded by Shana Cleveland, which was already featured in the Blog with her other project with The Sandcastles. Very quickly they came out with 'Damp Face', self-released debut EP that September. A year later arrived 'It's Alive' first LP on Hardly Art Records. After and EP with Old Lacy Bed and the 7" 'Brainwash', since August we can enjoy their sophomore album 'Weirdo Shrine', produced by Ty Segall. Vintage surf-pop (it's hard not to think on Link Wray) but infused with an urgency and vibrant energy that is automatically contagious. Infinite guitars, celestial vocals in perfect harmony and vibes from distant, sunny places. Turn on the bright lights!
Martha Ffion. And we cross the Atlantic Ocean to meet the Irish, but based in Glasgow, artist Claire Martha Ffion McKay. She started to make her a name with irresistible debut EP 'Go', out in October 2014. The singer-songwriter approach became something else when Ffion starting performing with a full band, sharing bills with the likes of Honeyblood or Jessica Pratt. Now the three first tunes have had two wonderful follow-ups this year with the single ‘No Applause’ / ‘Lead Balloon’, out in May on Lost Map Records and, more recently with the shiny 'So Long', out now on Turnstile Records. Think on Angel Olsen and Nancy Sinatra, or a less-slacker version of our beloved Courtney Barnett in love with the Shangri-Las. Pop with retro and surf vibes delivered with a punchier, hazier edge without losing any of their arresting charms. More soon please!
