Now Defunkt - Telling the Bees
Alternative/Alt. Rock, Christian
Washington, United States
Overall Impression: Having reviewed a previous track by the marvelous genre-bending Now Defunkt, I was excited to delve into "Telling the Bees" knowing very well that another stylistically exciting and wonderfully unique listening experience lay before me, and lo and behold, this is exactly what I got. Now Defunkt has done it again, "Telling the Bees" combines their brilliantly quirky lyrical style with the wholly unique approach to songwriting that we've come to know and love from this boundary-pushing band. Now Defunkt manages to fuse a number of genres together with both flair and grandiose and are clearly having a blast, and for that, I must tip my hat to them!
Strongest Point(s): There are a plethora of interesting ideas on display, and many stem from a number of different styles, including prog, funk, fusion, and rock. This interesting blending of styles is certainly a stylistic trait of the band and definitely helps them stand out from the crowd, resulting in a unique identity that is hard to categorize and fascinating to pick apart. The performances are both confident and assured, these are musicians at the top of their game and it clearly shows. From the interesting blend of spoken and sung lyrics to the superb backing vocals that accompany the main leads, there is a great sense of synergy between the tracks many elements that make for an incredibly absorbing listening experience, and the tremendously quirky lyrics are a joy to experience, raising many smiles from me for sure. Now Defunkt has a clear artistic vision, knowing very well what type of musical journey they want to take their listeners on and how they can make that journey as creative and exciting as possible, and with a strong engaging arrangement that's filled with plenty of interesting twists and turns and a songwriting style that is brimming with both character and personality, I think they accomplish that tenfold.
Target Audience Appeal: There's a great deal on offer here and music lovers will find it interesting to hear a number of different styles throughout, prog, fusion, and alr. rock to name a few. Fans of more experimental alt-rock will have a great time with "Telling The Bees".
Artist target suggestions: 24-7 Spyz, Frank Zappa, Fishbone, Yes, King Crimson, Soft Machine, King Crimson, Green Jelly, Prong, Pixies, Primus, Tom Waits, Les Claypool, Prophets Of Rage, Muse, Beastie Boys, Faith No More, Living Colour
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About the Reviewer:
Andre Avanessian is a freelance session musician, composer, and sound engineer based in the U.K. Having studied music production and composition at a degree level, he has taken his passion for all things audio-related to a level that has allowed him to become both a competent musician and performer. Being a self-confessed "Guitar Nerd" Andre has been continually studying the guitar, as well as teaching it, helping students both learn the instrument, develop their songwriting, and how to become proficient in home recording.