Collections Of Colonies Of Bees

Giving

Image of Collections Of Colonies Of Bees - Giving
Record Label
Hometapes

About this item

Collections of Colonies of Bees is the band behind Volcano Choir, their collaboration with vocalist Justin Vernon of Bon Iver.

'Giving' is Collections of Colonies of Bees’ anticipated new album, three years since the crtically-acclaimed 'Birds' was released on Table of the Elements. 

"Collections Of Colonies Of Bees has a deeper bench than anyone probably realized," wrote The Onion's A.V. Club in April, listing Volcano Choir, All Tiny Creatures, and Jon Mueller among the names that have ascended from the Wisconsin-based band's thirteen-year history. Ignited by Chris Rosenau and Mueller in 1998 (and coexisting alongside their band Pele until 2004), Collections of Colonies of Bees has the power and scope to illuminate the bloom of indie rock history.

Their discography spans Polyvinyl and Table of the Elements. They live a double life as Volcano Choir, their lineup intact along with the addition of Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) as vocalist. They've been called Rock, Post-Rock, Art Rock, Electronic, Instrumental, and Experimental. In between all those lines, and with the volume turned way way up, is the true definition of Collections of Colonies of Bees.

Now they're joining Hometapes, longtime friends and home to dynamic bands like Bear In Heaven and Megafaun, with a new album, 'Giving', to be released this summer. The pulse is set less than a minute into 'Giving', Collections of Colonies of Bees first album in three years. There's no foreplay, no smalltalk just endless altitude. Their sixth full-length, the bona fide descendent of 'Customer' and 'Birds' (and even Volcano Choir's 'Unmap'), is a 4-song, 28-minute eruption: Lawn, Vorm, Lawns, Vorms. It's the crashing waves of Rosenau's guitar, the pelting rain of Mueller's percussion, the vaporous breaths of Thomas Wincek's piano, and the rhythmic fabric woven by Jim Schoenecker (electronics), Daniel Spack (guitar), and Matthew Skemp (bass).

It's Collections of Colonies of Bees as themselves - the rigor, the emotion, the groove. For a band that's been described as "Rhys Chatham and Arnold Dreyblatt meet pop", 'Giving' is a record that begs to re-introduce Collections of Colonies of Bees as architects of avant-rock and to count them among the likes of Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky, and Battles.

STAFF COMMENTS

Darryl says: Righteously good music, they are truly up their with the kings of avant-rock taking it to a new level with their emotive and intricate groove laden eruptions.

Back to top