Release Date: 09.25.07
I’ve been a follower of Inara George since I first heard her solo debut, All Rise. There is something about her sweet innocent sounding vocals that grabs my attention immediately, sounding like a cross between Emily Haines and an old school jazz singer. After releasing her stunning debut, about a year or so later she teamed up with Greg Kurstin who managed to bring out the dirty and gritty side of Inara. There’s nothing like a good girl gone bad. Together they had one release under their belt, the self-titled The Bird And The Bee, and now they are gearing up for their follow-up, an EP called Please Clap Your Hands.
The six-track release starts off with the slow electronic “Polite Dance Song,” a swanky little tune that quickly forces a smile on your face as you hear Inara softly singing “Raise your hands in the air…Shake it like you just don’t care,” and “Would you be nasty with me?” A ’60s Stereolab-esque keyboard and sexy beat make “Man” a standout track, one that would fit in on a home stereo or in an upscale swanky lounge. “The Races” is a mellow song that is carried along by a killer electronic Brazilian tropical beat. Up next is the most upbeat song on the album, “So You Say,” which features a ’60s throwback vibe, but still sounds fresh. Just when you don’t think it could get any better, the release closes with an amazing cover of The Bee Gee’s “How Deep Is Your Love,” with Sia doing backup vocals. The group really makes the song theirs, and it’s an interesting choice to say the least.
The Bird And The Bee always please, and its nice to see that they are still alive and kicking it together. In October they’ll be hitting the road with Rilo Kiley for a few dates, and we highly suggest going to check them out live, front row, clapping your hands.
