BEES DELUXE
VOICE OF DOG
SONG NUMBER 9–BEER–ALL MILES–INDUSTRIAL (ESPIONAGE)–FLAT EARTH CONSPIRACY–BLUES FOR CAMEROON–FAKE INSTRUMENTAL–STRANGE MATTER–SPAGHETTI WESTERN–YOU SAY RED–IMAGINARY CONVERSATION BETWEEN BJORK AND BUDDY GUY
The folks who comprise the Boston-based Bees Deluxe call their brand of music “Acid Blues,” and that’s a good place to start, but that ain’t the half of it. The band explores a myriad of influences on their latest, “Voice Of Dog.” Conrad Warre is on guitar, coaxing an unbelievable array of tones and sounds over this set, with Carol Band on keys, Aldo Dorr on bass, Patrick Sanders on drums, and Rosy Rosenblatt guesting on the harp.
Those aforementioned influences include the Afro-Cuban rhythms of Mongo Santamaria, the stylings of bassist Jaco Pastorius, and even saxman Paul Desmond. It’s all mixed with a dose of traditional Chicago blues and a little British Invasion, but they are liable to hit you with just about anything. Check out the jazzy, spaced-out “Fake Instrumental,” featuring Rosy’s harp dancing around Conrad’s deft lead lines. You gotta love one of the set’s few vocals, the all-in-fun “Flat Earth Conspiracy,” a trip-hoppish number that flies in the face of all things logical, even insisting “the moon is made of green cheese and is six feet wide!” Rosy’s on hand again for the guitar-harp interplay of “Spaghetti Western,” an instrumental that simply begs for The Man With No Name to make one last, glorious stand! “You Say Red” is an example of the Brit influence, with Carol’s organ making a cool statement as our hero is continually at polar opposites with a lover. By far, tho, our favorite had to be a blissful, sprawling, ten-minute instrumental cleverly-entitled “A Conversation With Bjork And Buddy Guy,” featuring a string section and Conrad riffing on excellent Chicago-styled blues with a hint of Ronnie Earl.
Fans, Bees Deluxe is sho’ nuff a piece of work, and that ain’t no lie. But, if you’re not afraid to take a chance on a group of accomplished musicians doing things a little bit differently, then put on your avant-garde hat and dig “Voice Of Dog.” Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues And Roots Alliance.
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