Collections of Colonies of Bees' stuff is relatively hard to find, so I pounced on Rance when it arrived at the office. I'm glad that I did.
CoCoB is a solo project from Pele's Chris Rosenau, aided by bandmate Jon Mueller. I gather that the majority of Rance is improvised. While the glut of Tortoise wanna-bes has made improvisation something of a dirty word, I urge you to give Rance a chance. The music, a mixture of banjo, guitar, pedal steel, piano, occasional electronics and various percussion, is extremely involved and pleasingly organic -- far from the clinical vibe of third generation post rock. Each tune begins with a degree of chaos; Rosenau and Mueller tinker with their instruments, gradually feeling their way into a comfortable melody. Once a melody is found and the song takes off, they sit back and work through variations on their chosen structure. Yes, you've heard other bands apply a similar ethic, but Collections of Colonies of Bees do it differently, sporting not only wide-eyed joy but an aggressive willingness to defy convention.
The choice of banjo as lead instrument helps CoCoB to succeed. It's not just a matter of the roots-rock honesty that a banjo can bring to any composition, but the palpability of its sound. Each banjo pluck is a rich, plummy sound that pulls the music into three dimensions, creating an intimate listening space shared by the listener and the musicians. The pedal steel guitar adds a unique foundation. Once again, it's not here for instant Americana cred but is used as a string section, drawling its lazy chords through the underbelly of the music. Acoustic guitar adds percussive plucked melodies, squeaky strings and a host of harmonics, while occasional keyboard interjections offer unexpected and delightful surprises. The lyrics, appearing every so often, blend seamlessly into the music; I don't recall a word of them, which suits me fine.
If you think that current trends in instrumental/improvisational music stress intellectual in-jokes over straightforward enjoyment, these fifteen tracks will restore your faith in music-as-fun.
I either misplaced or never received a track listing for Rance, so I can't easily direct your attention to the merits of specific tracks. Instead I'll leave you with a blanket endorsement. Rance, now in a miniscule second pressing of 500 numbered copies, is something special. It may require some effort to find, but it's worth it. Collections of Colonies of Bees deal predominantly in quiet, private pleasures, and you can count on Rance to deliver a satisfied smile and an overall sense of well-being.
