Albums
< Bumblebeez
Prince Umberto & The Sisters of Ill
words by Mandy Drake
So the opening 'Dr Love' that booty shakes this Bumblebeez 6-track EP into life does come over a tad Stereo MCs. And then - due to its cellphone samples - like the Crazy Frog. But it's also Beck's 'Where It's At' and a flouro Gorillaz. And so continues 'Prince Umberto & The Sisters of Ill' - a record that is half empty (or half full) of slick processed beats, rump-thrusting funk and MIA-esque bonkers electronica. It's the old skool 'Clubb Clubb', with its echoing, female Salt And Pepper spits, that appears to be the highlight hear until 'My Girl' creeps in late at number 5 to clearly be the most interesting offering present, namely due to sounding totally original, even if it is such a departure that it sound alien beside its neighbouring tracks. Like Salad Fingers joining the reformed Portishead, it’s sparse, oddly beautiful and frightening without the lights on, before ‘Freak Ya Loneliness’ concentrates on scoring these Aussies a commercial hit to soundtrack a Calippo advert next August. As I say, it’s a half empty/half full affair. Today Bumblebeez have caught me in a good mood, tomorrow they might not be so lucky.
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