Bumblebeez 81's Chris Colonna grew up playing with collage. According to his biography, he used to make collages as young as 10 years old, out of magazines for hours on end. He must have been popular with the girls. From magazines he moved to audio tapes, cutting and joining music together with cellophane tape. This sort of collage effect is what Chris does with his music still. Most of the music on The Printz was put together in this sort of format on his laptop.
Bumblebeez 81 is composed of aforementioned Chris Colonna and his younger sister Pia. Both hail from the Southern coast of Australia where they make their home base near Canberra. The U.S. is third on the list to be hit with Bumblebeez 81. In actuality The Printz is just a combination of two EP's released in Australia and England called White Printz and Red Printz, respectively.
Colonna is the mastermind behind Bumblebeez 81, he creates the music. After he creates the tracks he improvises vocals over them. Pia is around to lend a rap here and there. Colonna derives inspiration for his music from graffiti inspired visual artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat. He tries to take his interest in visual arts and transform it into music.
As for the music itself; I would describe it as a fuzzed over fusion of electronic beats and loops, guitars, and often a heavy bass line. To his credit Colonna does a very good job with the music, especially with his cutting-and-pasting, it flows very smoothly for a wonderful auditory experience. "Step Back" is one of the more rock-structured songs and a stand-out on the track. It was the song that first gained them popularity by winning a radio-contest in Australia, giving them a place to be heard and launch the rest of Colonna's music. "Pony Ride" is a driving song that just pulls you along. It uses distorted vocals, electronic drums and loops, and a fuzzed out guitar. The music video that goes along with it, "Pony Ride" being the first single in the U.S., complements the song very well and is a good watch. Get to your computer or your MTV to see and hear it, if you haven't already. "Come Ova" closes out Printz as one of the best tracks on the CD. Surprisingly simple after the rest of the album, using only a minimalist beat, guitar, and a good bass line.
You might have noticed that I didn't mention any of the tracks where Pia raps, or really said anything about her. Pia is definitely the weak point in Bumblebeez 81. While every once in a while she is able to catch some sort of flow, most of the time she raps like an auctioneer. Just talking fast and trying to pass it off as rhythm. As bad as that is, her lyrics are worse. I don't know whether to laugh, or feel sorry for her. Pia really needs to work on her ability and lyrics, or Chris needs to cut her from the band if he really wants to up from here.
Overall Printz is a satisfying listen, and Colonna does a very good job as a laptop musician. Although you probably won't have a new outlook on music, buying Printz is not the worst decision you could make this week.
3/4
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