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Persephone’s Bees music review
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Persephone’s Bees Notes From the Underworld
Sony
Honestly, it seems these days as though every band has the same goal, sound, influences, you name it. Another quartet from Leeds, eh? Or another minimalist two-piece? How about a good London Libs rip-off? Don’t you want something new? Something to set your spine-tingling or your nervous system exploding? Something, you know, good? Look to Persephone’s Bees, purveyors of all things coyly captivating, helmed by the impossibly cool Angelina Moysov.
Born and raised in Russia, Moysov has a strange, European coo, perfectly adapted to ain’t-it-cute-lines like “I’m headin’ to the city of love.” She lends her talents amiably, as the rest of the band turns out a surprising hodge-podge of musical history reaching from Moscow to Manchester, and pulling off the whole-thing in stilettos. An impressive feat. There’s been a lot of buzz around Persephone’s Bees, with the support of influential station KCRW, the use of “City of Love” in the film Bewitched, and touring slots with BRMC and Cake. But for once you can believe the hype - their debut EP is diverse without being overambitious, from The Fiery Furnace-inspired “Way to Your Heart” to the Blondie-esque “Queen’s Night Out” to the punky “On the Earth.” But what stands out is the uniqueness of the album.
Take “Muzika Dyla Fil'ma,” for instance - performed entirely in Russian with nary a wink and a fantastic sound. Moysov may be lightly jesting in other aspects of her songwriting (take lyrics like “I will ask for English cars/And cool dresses” from “Even Though I’m Fooling Around”), but she takes her influences seriously: from gypsy folk to the Clash, everything is digested so thoroughly that the amalgam is seamless.
Elsewhere, there’s the blustery prog of “Home”; the edgy “Paper Plane” (with the perfect pick-up line, “Would you like to ride my butterfly?”) and a future single in the airy “Nice Day.” The ultimate impression is that of a cross between a 60s chanteuse and a punk joyride, with a touch of mystery left aside. And that’s the best part about Persephone’s Bees - their sly, knowing charm. After all, coyness is nice, and coyness won’t stop them from doing all the things in life they want to.
