A breakthrough and a breakup. That succinctly summarizes the origin story of how Spirit of the Beehive got from point A in releasing their most beguiling yet universally acclaimed listen to date with their 2021 sophomore effort, ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH, to nearly being on the verge of collapse as a band before deciding to make an astounding collage from relational mess at point B with their latest, an extended play, i’m so lucky. The dissolution of co-vocalists Zack Schwartz and Rivka Ravede’s decade-long romantic relationship leading into its recording is an enticing detail to focus on, but the Philly experimental indie rock trio have never really been known to be an experience of focus even before then, and so it’s particularly promising for tomorrow to hear how across the four-song EP, the Philly trio of Schwartz, Ravede, and Corey Wichlin craft an effort more concentrated on reassembling sounds once shattered through its canvas. “human debenture” and “tapeworm” can be viewed as an energy intent on antagonizing any sense of center with complicated feelings, yet they are always met with a salve. Pop structures (or at least the closest thing resembling them in SotB’s lens) form an ombré of healing properties over harmony, even if through a far off daze, making some sense of the Schwartz and Ravede’s world of emotions on “really happening” and “natural devotion 2”. Though the band has confronted our collective grim fates and a bleak existentialism on a capitalist timeline with an oddity of ease, hearing Spirit of the Beehive being shook by the core principals of the human heart into a close brush with stillness is equally a thrill to observe.

Highlights: “really happening”, “tapeworm”, “natural devotion 2”

Spirit of the Beehive’s i’m so lucky will be released September 1st on Saddle Creek.

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