Telling the Bees is a new/old collaboration between songwriter, Andy Letcher (mandolin, mandolute, pipes, vocals), Josie Webber (cello, vocals), Jane Griffiths (fiddle, vocals) and Colin Fletcher (bass).
Andy has played in various medieval folkedelic bands, including: Jabberwocky, Space Goats, Celtarabia, Paescod and The Steve Tyler band. He is also the author of Shroom: A Cultural History of the Magic Mushroom.
Josie plays bass with funk-rockers, The Conscripts, and has played cello with Tiger Moon, Soma, Lisa Lindley-Jones and chanteuse, Zoe Bicat.
Jane, one of Oxford’s most sought after fiddle-players, currently plays with a host of acoustic artists, including Matt Sage and the Orchestra of Love, Australian songwriter Lisa Fitzgibbon and as one half of delectable folk duo Fletcher & Griffiths.
Colin is Oxford's hardest working bass player, currently working with Matt Sage, Simon Davies, Lisa Fitzgibbon and The Tim Van Eyken band. He is the other half of delectable folk duo Fletcher & Griffiths.
Influences
Harper, Martyn & Drake (of course), Vashti Bunyan, Comus, The Wicker Man, Tunng, James Yorskston, Chris Wood, English Acoustic Collective, Space Goats, Tribedelica, Gong, Hawkwind, Caravan, Circulus, Morning Star, Espers, Blowzabella, The Ozric Tentacles (oh yes, Treworgy Tree Fayre 1989, I was there), Steve Hillage, Kit Williams, The Golden Bough, Welsh Tea, the drone-based musics of the world, her outdoors.
Ooh, something like Primeval meets Tunng. On a dark night. After a heavy meal of mushrooms.
Or something.
Buy CD from CD Baby
Download album from Woven Wheat Whispers
Our debut album, 'Untie the Wind' is out now! It has already been described as: 'a significant event in English folk' by Folkwords
It's got original songs and tunes with heathenish leanings and a political bent. It's got mandolins and fiddles and cellos and double basses and English bagpipes.
Yup, that's right. English bagpipes.
We think you'll like it.
Follow the link above to buy it from CD Baby, or you can order it through our website.
Here's what people have been saying about us:
'One of the highlights of the Oxford Folk Festival' BBC Oxford
'Telling the Bees play a seriously tight set which goes down a storm' Colin May, Nightshift
'Lyrical, vibey...mesmerizing' Tim Healey, Oxford Folk Festival
'Wove such a gorgeous layer of sound that they brought the crowd to a full-blown psychedelic state' The Compass
Of Untie the Wind:
'A significant event in English folk' Tim Carroll, Folkwords
'Telling the Bees is more than whispering to the hives; this is a band that conjures hauntingly beautiful music - simple as that. The lyrics are pure poetry gliding over an intrigue of subtle impressive music that calls you to listen' Tim Carroll, Folkwords
'A great CD with some beautiful music. Get yourself a copy!' Genevieve Tudor, BBC Radio Shropshire Folk Programme
'recalls both early Fairport as well as Kris Drever...Andy Letcher's voice is softly resonant and adds a poetic edge to the flowery, occasionally psychedelic instrumentation. Of course the whole thing sounds like it's landed from some time around 1968, but, really, that only ups its appeal' Nightshift
We're still taking festival and gig bookings for 2008 so if you're new to us and haven't yet dipped your proboscis in the dark pools of our darkly crafted psych-folk nectar then do get in touch.
Here's what we look like in action (photos by Kate Raworth)
Here's some photos from our rural recording retreat at Bobbin Mill:
Three slide shows is probably excessive but here's some photos from our Exmoor recording session:
Hey the Tells, or is it the Bees? Twas great having you peeps play - ace stuff. We're taking a break to work on stuff and speak to powerful people etc. Defo will get back in touch as soon as we program what we think will be next spring. ta tar rx
Greetings all! Untie the Wind arrived in the post today to brighten my day and I've been listening to it off and on all day, it's very lovely...a wonderfully complete package! The very best to all of you, and the bees, Lori x
Ah chaps, delayed response as all has been completely mad here, but THANK YOU for having us. Your set was very personal and intense and i really enjoyed the tangent. Much love to you all, hope to catch up over the summer as I will have new-found freedom... xXx
Haha Hey Thanks for accepting the add Lovely Music The Comment Below mine "Miss Tatty Ends" is my mothers comment XD LooL I Love the album cover its so awesome!!
Gorgeously beautiful, soft, and dreamy - bit like the rustling of trees in early summer....! Thank you for brightening up my day in the post this morning. 'wood' still my favourite but to be honest -
