Buzzle Bee
| Buzzle Bee | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 23 October 2000 (U.S.) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 39:49 | |||
| Label | Duophonic Drag City Records[1] | |||
| Producer | Fulton Dingley, The High Llamas | |||
| The High Llamas chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [3] |
| Pitchfork | 6.0/10[4] |
Buzzle Bee is a studio album by English musical project the High Llamas.[5][6] It was released in 2000 on Duophonic.[3]
Critical reception
[edit]Exclaim! wrote: "Buzzle Bee proves that the Llamas have established a signature sound and much of it is faultlessly beautiful. There's a sense, though, that it's also an apex; if their music isn't to become as comfortable as all those Beach Boys comparisons are tiresome, some genuine surprises will need to occur next time."[7] NME wrote that "'The Passing Bell' is brilliant Capri-Sun pop – and O’Hagan knows it, because he lets it meander on beautifully for ten minutes. After that, we’re at the mercy of his wayward desire to say nothing of any consequence in the style of Holland-era Brian Wilson with sunstroke."[8]
Track listing
[edit]All songs written by Sean O'Hagan.
- "The Passing Bell" – 6:31
- "Pat Mingus" – 4:25
- "Get Into the Galley Shop" – 4:38
- "Switch Pavilion" – 4:28
- "Tambourine Day" – 3:36
- "Sleeping Spray" – 5:05
- "New Broadway" – 5:11
- "Bobby's Court" – 5:55
Some editions of the album include the song "2 Part Byke" (6:04).
Personnel and credits
[edit]The High Llamas
- Rob Allum
- Jon Fell
- Marcus Holdaway
- Sean O'Hagan
Songs written by Sean O'Hagan and arranged by the High Llamas. All music played and arranged by the High Llamas with Dominic Murcott on vibes and marimba, Pete Aves on 12-string guitar and John Bennet on slide guitar. John Teffer played tenor sax and flute and Andy Ramsay played modular synth. Fulton Dingley is heard on electronic bits and pieces. Mary Hansen and Susan James sang backing vocals on "Get Into the Gallery Shop" and "Tambourine Day". Hansen sings on "Switch Pavilion" and "Tambourine Day". The chorus on "The Passing Bell" is Emma Carter, Kelsey Michael, Jo Haynes, Mary Hansen and Susan James.
The album was recorded by Fulton Dingley and mixed by Fulton Dingley and the High Llamas except "Bobby's Court" which was recorded by Dominic Murcott and mixed by Murcott and O'Hagan. It was recorded and mixed at Blackwing Studios London except "Bobby's Court" which was recorded at Pinny Sound.
Cover design by M2.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "The High Llamas - Buzzle Bee | Drag City". www.dragcity.com.
- ^ AllMusic review
- ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 282.
- ^ "The High Llamas: Buzzle Bee". Pitchfork.
- ^ "The High Llamas Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ Buckley, Peter (4 March 2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. ISBN 9781843531050 – via Google Books.
- ^ "High Llamas Buzzle Bee". exclaim.ca.
- ^ "Buzzle Bee | NME". NME. 12 September 2005.
- ^ High Llamas, The. (2000). In Buzzle Bee [LP liner notes]. Chicago: Drag City. DC191A.
