That voice... just over one year ago Sea Of Bees quietly released Songs For The Ravens on Crossbill Records and her haunting vocals echoed out through the world. Looking back, it's hard to believe that it's only been one year. The past twelve months saw Jules Bee signing with Heavenly Records in the UK, full tours of North America and Europe, accolades from MOJO, NPR, BBC, Spin and so many more. Even a performance at the notorious Glastonbury Festival came in the wake of Songs For The Ravens. With great pleasure, we're happy to announce that, on August 23rd, Crossbill Records will release the Gnomes EP!
‘Gnomes’ is quietly disarming, propelled by a characteristic child-like vocal, wrapping intimate musings against a backdrop of rhythmic guitar riffs. The song is alluring in its mysterious and fragmented beauty and a clear highlight last year's album. ‘Gnomes’ is the accompanied by a remix by Tunng – the folk experimentalists contort the original, chopping the vocals in amongst Eastern strings, both urgent and exhilarating. ‘Don’t Fear The Reaper’ is a cover of Blue Oyster Cult and sees Sea Of Bees collaborate with Neal Casal who once again showcases his fine craftsmanship, having been a key member of Ryan Adams' The Cardinals. To round off the EP ‘With Or Without You’ is a delicate, wistful cover of the U2 classic.
The press is buzzing over Sea Of Bees:
"But as always, the real star is Bee's lovely and distinctive voice." NPR naming Sea Of Bees to the top 100 acts at SXSW 2011
"Singing so close to the microphone that she scrapes it with her nose, her vocals are simultaneously childlike and aged, intimate and astonishing." London Guardian
"Sublime debut from honey voiced alt.country siren." Uncut Magazine
"Self-described as freak-folk, the Scaramento native mixes woozy vocals with guitar, that in the case of The Woods possesses a sound, on-the-surface not too dissimilar to Joanna Newsom with raised-pitch, skewing vocals adding a naive or slightly child-like quality.” Q Magazine
"One-woman band turns ache into wonderment." Spin Magazine
"California songsmith swaps sheltered upbringing for musical self-discovery." Mojo Magazine giving it 4 stars
"a strangely unique blend of haunting country music, pleasant-sounding folk and electronic psychedelia, all centred around Julie’s gentle but imposing voice.” Stereoboard
"Sea of Bees is the best thing I've discovered so far this year." Creative Loafing
"As soon as you hear her, you're not going to be able to shake it." Portland Mercury
"... folk-tinged indie-pop that's so disarmingly sweet and guileless, so tender in its pleas for emotional connection that it can soften the hardest of hearts, or penetrate the toughest of filters." LA Weekly
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