Music

Listen to an album of musicians jamming with bees

by Dan MacRae

It’s hard to put out an album in the 2010s that doesn’t have a sexy guest star or two in it. Heck, even bees are putting out records with the promise of bonus star power and we’re not just talking about that smug-ass Honey Nut Cheerio Bee popping up for a guest verse either.

Members of Spiritualized (the band your friend on drugs makes a big fuss about!) have lent their talents to a project from the Be collective titled One. Spiritualized’s Jason Pierce and John Coxon paired up with Amiina, Youth, cellist Deirdre Bencsik, vocalist Camille Buttress, and Be leaders Kev Bales and Doggen Foster to improvise in the key of D along with an audio feed of beehive sounds. Consider this a taste:

Here’s a brief explanation of the art project that inspired the album:

“One is the soundtrack to artist Wolfgang Buttress’ multiple award winning UK Pavilion at the 2015 Milan Expo – an installation that highlighted the plight of the honeybee, focusing on the importance of pollination. The music on the record is a constantly changing and evolving symphony – the sound of a dialogue between bee and human.”

Billed as “a unique piece of truly meditative music,” One is slated to be available for purchase on February 12. It’s a shame this concept wasn’t put into play for the Nic Cage Wicker Man remake from a decade back, but what can you do?