BEEHIVE CANDY

The Rhythm Express - Jolene ft Maiko Watson. Background - A few months back I was turned on to a haunting YouTube clip of Dolly Parton singing her most recorded song, “Jolene”. The original 1973 track had been slowed from single format to long playing 33 1/3 speed. That listening experience was both eerie and a revelation. No doubt, Dolly Parton possesses a grand set of pipes. Slowed down it becomes more evident, in that every inflection, bend in a vowel, a word is extraordinary and rocked with emotion.  With that in mind and captivated by the change of tempo, I began hearing other possibilities. What if this was done with a reggae feel - early Bob Marley and Wailer's rhythm section style and backing vocals reminiscent Marley’s backup singers, the I-Threes. Acutely aware Parton and a cappella sing group Pentatonix just won a Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Award with an updated version of ‘Jolene’; the song’s alluring story, sumptuous melody and sweeping beauty was more than...

Vagabon - The Embers. Background - At the end of February, Vagabon, the band project of multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Laetitia Tamko, released a debut album "Infinite Worlds" to considerable praise internationally. Significant support has arrived elsewhere, with Jenny Gathright at NPR calling the album "the most powerful meditation on the politics of space I've heard since Solange's A Seat At The Table." Infinite Worlds is available now via Father/Daughter Records. Vagabon is currently on a full US tour with Allison Crutchfield & The Fizz that includes shows at SXSW. She heads to the UK and France for the very first time in May, tour dates are on the Beehive Candy tour page. Facebook here . With some UK tour dates lined up for May, I reckon that's a good enough reason to feature 'The Embers' which is the first of eight songs on the highly recommended 'Infinite Worlds' album. Mixing ideas and genres with a fresh and creativ...