All The Bees - All The Bees

by Helen Tipping

published: 4 / 5 / 2024

Label: All The Bees
Format: CD

Environmentally-conscious indie folk on debut album from promising duo All The Bees

Review

All The Bees are Gitika Parrtingon, a professional musician and choral director, working with independent artists, and Kirsty McGee. a folk singer from Manchester, who has performed solo and with various bands. Kirsty is also an environmentalist and has been involved in major campaigns such as the Newbury Bypass protest. This collaboration came about after they met on an online TV music course during lock down. The theme of the album is nature and the environment, drawing on their indie folk roots. The clarity of the vocals comes through strongly, with multiple instruments in support. Single ‘Wildflowers’ is melancholic, featuring vocals and guitar. Stand out track for me is ‘King Crow’, the second single release, which has an Americana tinged melody using picked banjo to underline the theme. The singles are the strongest tracks on the album, as you'd expect, but the rest of the album is relaxing to listen to, with wistful lyrics and sparse instrumentals that never eclipse the vocals. I wasn't familiar with their work, so was pleasantly surprised and will watch out for any further releases.