The Bees' first album 'Sunshine Hit Me' offered a touching rag-bag of 60s harmonies, old style reggae and quirky keyboard based doodlings which threatened to wander off the record but never failed to engage.
Ironically, with 'Free The Bees' the group sound less free than on their debut. Some order has been put in place and there is a striking improvement in the overall musicianship. It's as if the first album was made with the record collection scattered around the studio but this time they've been stacked neatly and alphabetically on a shelf for easy reference.
While the songs still sound great- if perhaps more rooted in their various influences - the raised bar on the 'muso'meter does mean that much of their shambolic charm has gone. However, before you worry that Ocean Colour Scene have crashed the party, fear not. The Bees still sound like they're having fun making their music and there is such variety in each track that it's impossible not to be swept along enthusiastically.
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Still in place as well are the wonderfully romantic lyrics that hark back to a time when boys courted girls and the greatest thrill was securing a last dance at the weekly bop. 'I Love You' is the kind of song your (grand)parents would use to illustrate why any popular music made after 1963 is just 'noise'.
Finally amongst the great instrumentation a special mention must be made of the voice. Crooner, rocker, popster and balladeer - all parts are superbly taken by Paul Butler. Maybe in time this will become the defining sound of The Bees whilst their music continues its mystery tour through the past 50 years of Rock 'n' Roll.
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