“One” by Be is the first long player released by Caught by the River’s record label Rivertones.
This unique four track album is the sound of British summertime from the viewpoint of the animal kingdom. A truly transcendental record – if you try to imagine Spacemen 3 recording a series of 21st century outdoor ragas for Touch Records and you’re somewhere in the right direction.
“One” is the soundtrack to artist Wolfgang Buttress’ UK Pavilion at the 2015 Milan Expo – an installation that highlighted the plight of the honeybee, focusing on the importance of pollination. The music on the record is a constantly changing and evolving symphony – the sound of a dialogue between bee and human.
The album was recorded by musicians Kev Bales and Tony Foster – a duo known for working with Spritualized, Julian Cope, Dave Gahan and Mark Lanegan (among many others). Other musicians featured on the record include Jason Pierce, Youth, cellist Deidre Bencsik, vocalist Camille Buttress and Amiina (the string section regularly used by Sigur Ros). The recording sessions saw musicians improvising in the key of D along to a live audio feed of beehive sounds. Piano, Mellotron and lap steel were overdubbed later. The result is a uniquely meditative piece.
