An illuminating psych-rock track from Rochester-based band The Dirty Pennies, “Bee Sting” presents a tonally dynamic charm — spanning from breezy guitar jangles to fervent bursts of distortion and synth-laden nostalgia. Bee stings can be rather unpleasant, but this particular one is mind-opening. The band describe the release as “about a person going through an unintentional psychedelic experience after getting stung by a bee.”
A sense of initial bliss is conveyed via the mellow guitars and balmy soundscape; the trip is only about to begin. The psychedelic effects start to take hold as keys intertwine with a more impassioned guitar drive. A soaring vocal emergence counts down from four, admitting “I’m losing feeling,” as the bee sting starts to induce change. The mid-point attains a climactic mind-spell, infusing buzzy synths and wandering guitars. A final rush at the six-minute turn accelerates briefly, into an abrupt come-down. “Bee Sting” is a fantastic psych-rock journey from The Dirty Pennies.
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The track is also featured in the genre-based, best-of Spotify compilation Emerging Psychedelic Rock.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
