2012.09.17 Collections Of Colonies Of Bees - Customer

Color: White

Released: 2004, October 26 

Label: Polyvinyl

This is me working my way backwards after discovering Collection Of Colonies Of Bees right when they released Birds. This record is very different from that record but it marks the gradual change CoCoBees made from two-man side project to full fledged band. The are motifs buried in some songs that later appear on Birds. But Customer is way more than just a transitional record. For one thing, it was released as 3 different versions. There’s the U.S. CD version and the Japanese CD version, and then finally this vinyl version. And they’re all distinctly different from each other while still part of the same whole. All three feature 9 tracks named “Fun” and one named “Funeral.” All three versions feature very minimal design with gratuitous use of the color white. But one CD version features mostly electronic arrangements with a few live instruments while the other CD features mostly live instruments with a few electronic embellishments… the vinyl features sort of a mashup of the two approaches, if that makes any sense. Also, the design that is featured on the front of both CD versions appear on the vinyl labels. Confused yet? It’s an interesting way to release one album across multiple formats and works quite well in this case. This album definitely challenged my perception of what instrumental music could sound like and broadened my tastes quite a bit during this time. CoCoBees opened me up to some things musically that have became favorites over time and I’m thankful for this period of musical discovery that they sent me on.