Can you really expect anything bad from a band who has a crush on Bertrand Russell? At least, you're tempted to say, these guys are kind of… arty, or maybe they just love to think. And God knows how much pop music needs alternative arty acts who love to think. Wasn't it Mr Russell who said that most people would rather die than think? Well, guess what? Not only Red Bee Society thinks, but it actually churns out great ideas in repeat mode. Not that this has much to do with philosophy, but it sure has a lot to do with great, 'arty' pop and genre hopping music.

First, it is soul. 'Soul Ascending' (stream or download mp3) is like Marving Gaye meeting Sam Cooke in Argyle Street, with singer Mark Baillie trying to shield them from the insisting rain. It's possibly the best track in the record, with its rich sound layer (guitar, drum loops, reverse effects) and Baillie's voice ranging from the sexy nasal to the classy falsetto.

Then it's reggae (but there's a lot of ska as well) with 'The Passing Boy', where guitar and keyboards create a strong cinematic atmosphere effectively counterpointing the sort of jamaican tempo.

But it's also straight rock'n'roll on 'Naturals Know' (stream ) , vaguely reminding of the Velvet Underground or the Rolling Stones (but more à la Dandy Warhols, fresher, funkier and more playful), modern bluesy in 'The Homecoming' and morriconeian in the souljazzy 'Peacock Feathers' (stream or download mp3), potentially nominated (is there such a category?) for Best Torch Song of the Year, mainly, but not only, for the sad and witty lines "You never say I love you / You only say I love you too / So won't you give something back / something to keep my heart intact".

It's definitely a hard job to give Red Bee Society a place (or maybe call it a niche) in the gilded but cruel world of rock'n'roll. They don't do soul, they don't do pop, they don't do funk, they don't even do rock. They just create music and tunes to die for (or at least feel kind of dopey). It's no mystery though that they don't have a deal yet. It must be written in the Decalogue of the Music Industry to never sign an arty (and even entertaining, mind you) band, if not formed after some market researching. And, you see, Betrand Russell fans do not believe in market researching. It might be lethal for their own ideals.

Red Bee Society