Persephone's Bees Issue #28

Notes from the Underworld (Columbia)

By Anne C. Johnson
Published: June 1st, 2006 | 12:13pm

That Persephone’s Bees take its name from Greek mythology — the Queen of the Underworld in particular — should be an indicator of the rare treat that is Notes from the Underworld. What begins as kind of run-of-the-mill, garden variety (though Cheap Trick-influenced) ’60s-infused, modern pop makes way for some intelligent music on their first major-label release produced by Eric Valentine (Queens of the Stone Age, Good Charlotte, lost prophets).

Singer Angelina Moysov came to the United States from southern Russia in 1993 and cites Russian folk and gypsy music as well Russian literature as some of her many out-of-the-ordinary influences. Evidence of her homesickness and wariness of American culture is all over Notes and comes together beautifully on “Nice Day,” a downright, near-perfect techno-psychedelic pop song. Moysov’s sultry vocals are rich with world weariness when she sings in English but gain an ethereal quality when singing in her native language (the album’s sole Russian-only number, “Muzika Dlya Fil’ma”).

You may have already heard “Nice Day” featured in commercials for the Hilton Hotel chain (or while shopping at American Eagle Outfitters). Hilton Hotel might rethink this decision if they heard the searing indictment of the likes of Paris Hilton on “Queen’s Night Out.” Moysov offers this chilling observation: “She doesn’t want to save the world / She doesn’t want to save her soul.”