Mad Mackerel Recommends…Sea of Bees

Sea of Bees is Julie Baenziger, an utterly spell-binding new talent. Ahead of the release of her debut album Song For The Ravens, released on Heavenly Recordings on February 7, she will be embarking on a tour with the equally ethereal Smoke Fairies, taking in dates across the UK, culminating in a performance at the Scala on February 3rd.

A multi-instrumentalist who possesses a truly unique, lulling warmness to her voice and an honesty in her song-writing which is both heartbreaking and inspirational, her music effortlessly takes on an otherworldly, hypnotic element. Truly magical.

Her debut EP was titled The Woods, and was released October 18th. It is the perfect introduction to Sea Of Bees. In her own words, The Woods is “based upon the hope and the dream of laying with someone you love.” It is hypnotic, wistful and utterly disarming. B-side Lightfriend, at just 53 seconds, sounds like it was recorded inside of an enchanted music-box, twinkling, delicate and allowing the lulling warmness of Baenziger’s vocals to be brought to the fore.

You can grab it below completely for free, ahead of the new album. Undoubtedly ‘freak-folk’ at its very finest.

Pre-order the album from Rough Trade here. Visit her MySpace here.

Download Sea of Bees – The Woods mp3 (from The Woods EP)

Download Sea of Bees – Lightfriend mp3 (from The Woods EP)

Those tour dates:

Sunday 16 January – TUNBRIDGE WELLS – Forum (£7)

Monday 17 January – BRIGHTON – Jam (£7)

Tuesday 18 January – PORTSMOUTH – Wedgewood Rooms (£7)

Wednesday 19 January – BIRMINGHAM – Glee Club (£7)

Thursday 20 January – NOTTINGHAM – Glee Club (£7)

Saturday 22 January – LANCASTER – Library (£7)

Sunday 23 January – GATESHEAD – Sage (£9)