Isle of Wight band, The Bees, have been raising the excitement levels among diehard fans over the few weeks.
A previously unheard track, titled Seeds, was released on Spotify (listen below) a couple of weeks ago. It instantly fueled speculation about a new Bees album, but shortly afterwards Aaron ‘Fletch’ Fletcher of the band, announced, instead, details a brand-new reissue of Sunshine Hit Me, their debut album.
Newly remastered album
Being released on 22nd September 2023, the album is newly remastered and will be available on sky blue vinyl, expanded CD and all digital formats.
The CD also boasts six previously unheard tracks, including Seeds.
The first of four studio albums recorded by The Bees, Sunshine Hit Me was played on repeat back in this household in the early 2000s.
Fletch: The mixtape that reflected all our treasured finds
Aaron explains,
“When we were writing Sunshine Hit Me, it would have been difficult for us to think that twenty plus years later, we would get to celebrate it once again.
“We took our inspiration from multiply genres and pioneering artists. Jamaican roots, Brazilian Tropicalia, Afrobeat, James Bond soundtracks, sun drenched soul, psychedelia and under the stars around the campfire folk music.
“There’s no question that the golden periods of the 1960s and early 1970s informed our sound. Globally blending, Sunshine Hit Me is the mixtape that reflected all our treasured finds.”
He went on to add,
“But let’s not forget, that this record was recorded and produced in a shed (!) in a valley that runs from the side of the downs on the Isle of Wight. If you let them, there would be cows who would pop their heads in the window.
“It was a joy, a period of two blissful years at the turn of the century. It’s timeless and it’s ever so grateful. The sun always shone and now we are delighted that this record has been reissued.”
Preorder your copy
You can preorder your copy of the album via Capsule Records, or your local record store, such as Ventnor Exchange or AAA Records.
