Bee Keeper / Milkshake

Depois do chamado boom da música moderna portuguesa nos anos 80, o início da década seguinte é marcado pelo surgimento de um movimento indie, influenciado pelas sonoridades de bandas como os Sonic Youth, Teenage Fanclub, Weezer, Built to Spill, Yo La Tengo, Pavement, Dinosaur Jr., Pixies, etc., e por uma ética “do it yourself” herdada do movimento punk.
Num tempo em que a edição discográfica estava acessível apenas a artistas consagrados e a valores seguros, os mais jovens sentiam grandes dificuldades para gravarem os seus registos. As bandas nasciam e passados alguns meses logo se desfaziam sem deixar qualquer rasto, o formato digital (CD) estava ainda longe da democratização, o vinil agoniava, as cassetes eram o suporte privilegiado para mostrar e ouvir música.
As bandas que cantavam em inglês tinham dificuldades acrescidas para chegar ao grande público. As editoras de maior dimensão não demonstravam grande interesse em gravar bandas como os Tina & Top Ten, Lesma, Red Beans, Pinhead Society, Toast, Gasoleene, No Noise Reduction, e muitas outras oriundas de locais descentralizados como as Caldas da Rainha, Alcobaça e Castelo Branco.
Neste contexto surge em 1994 o projecto editorial Bee Keeper da responsabilidade de Elsa Pires. Imbuída de um espirito assumidamente amador, no sentido de quem ama verdadeiramente aquilo que faz, a Bee Keeper gravou demotapes de bandas que estavam a começar a despontar, lançou um fanzine, promoveu concertos, estimulou a auto-edição, dinamizou projectos insólitos como a gravação de um disco de versões de uma banda relativamente desconhecida e sem discos gravados, etc. A Milkshake de Luís Futre, associa-se à Bee Keeper na promoção de espectáculos e na prospecção de novas bandas, tendo muitas edições o selo conjunto Bee Keeper/Milkshake.
Cada lançamento da editora possuia um cunho próprio resultante do cuidado artesanal colocado na apresentação e na distribuição que era feita maioritariamente por via postal, havendo sempre um forte envolvimento pessoal em todo o processo. A imagem gráfica da Bee Keeper caracterizava-se pelo uso recorrente dos recortes e das colagens, das fotocópias e dos letterings desenhados à mão, gerando um caleidoscópio de imagens e cores. As edições eram muito limitadas, raramente ultrapassando a centena de exemplares distribuídos num circuito marginal e restrito de melómanos, sem grandes preocupações com contratos, carreiras e ganhar dinheiro.
O sonho terminou abruptamente no Verão de 2002, quando a Elsa faleceu precocemente.

Este texto é uma modesta homenagem a Elsa Pires, ao seu amor pela música e à sua militância.
Segue-se uma tentativa de sistematização do catálogo da Bee Keeper, em inglês conforme a versão oficial da editora, complementada por diversas outras fontes. Algumas das edições não têm número de catálogo definido, e provavelmente existirão outras edições que não estão referenciadas na listagem, pelo que ficará em aberto, sendo sujeita a revisões e acréscimos até assumir uma forma mais definitiva.

· bee001 - Little – “i like it if you feel lucky.”, 19’05’’ tape homeplayed, homerecorded in Elsa’s room, xylophone, tambourine. side A: 1. The Lock Ness Monster // 2. It's not // 3. Your guitar // 4. Forever. side B: 5. Dr. Smith // 6. Who loves you. Band: Elsa, Paulo. Edited in 1994.
· bee002 - Icecreamstar - issue one of this fanzine. in english, 52 pages, ren & stimpy, beatnik filmstars, bee bands...
· bee003 - Red Beans - 22 friend songs, 60m tape. punk + experimentalism sometimes.
· bee004 – Radioactive Man / Us Forretas Ocultos - “Slumber Party?” 60m split tape = strawberries and surf guitars.
· bee006 - Yolk / Damage Fanclub – “Happy-Go-Lucky” 60m split tape = spaced with girl vocals and some destruction
· bee007 - Toast – “toast”, 30m tape - angry + sincere, love + hate songs
· bee008 - Mammies & Kids – “pink elephant is gone?”, 30m tape pavement pop, tully craft + smudge covers.
· bee009 - TVT/Mad Crash – “do astronauts fart inside their spacesuits?”, 60m split tape, toy instruments, loops, noises, sampled voices + sounds
· bee010 - Mushroom Revolution – “this is not a candy mountain”, 30m tape, live girl powered songs
· bee011 - Pinhead Society – “have you slept with your tv set (you're looking better)”, 30m tape, sonic punky geniuses
· bee012/milk001 - Teenagers from outer space – “the do it yourself pop explosion” - 15 portuguese bands on pink vinyl, all bee bands plus others, the 1st 500 copies sold out, this is the 2nd repressing of 300.
· bee013 - REF – “Laurie Love”, 20m tape, drum machine, very touch & go.
· bee014 - Watermelon - the first bee keeper compilation tape. 60m tape featuring all bee bands, a sample of what you can find on each tape, the best way to get to know bee keeper, it's an audible catalog wow. (none of these are on the Teenagers LP).
· bee015 - King Neptune's Favorite Band – “play with me”, 30m tape. songs that make you happy. girl/boy swirly vocals, amazing bass player, Catarina's the coolest guitar girl. Songs: Grey skies blue // Jump to You // Play With Me // 2 Steps From Death. Band: Nuno Ângelo (vocals/bass); Catarina Ângelo (vocals/guitar); Jorge Ângelo (drums); Luis André (guitar).
· bee016 - Marbles – “Sleepytime”. The Marbles were born August 1995, in the city of Montijo, suburbs of Lisbon. At first this project was thought to be a sequence of a before project called Mushroom Revolution. In 1996 the first demo was recorded and entitled Sleepy time. This demo expressed the pop side of the band. Songs: 1. Journey Around Saturn // 2. Face You With a Smile // 3. Strange Person // 4. Quite the Same // 5. Struggle // 6. It's so Sad // 7. My Revolution (bonus track). Still in 1996 a compilation of garage bands entitled “Teenagers from outer space”, was put out and included a track from the Marbles called “Quite the same”. Band: Hermano (vocals); Pedro e Osga (guitars); Glu (drums); Schmitt (bass).
· bee017 - Us Forretas Ocultos – “Sweet Classic Dreams”. 26'06" demotape recorded in 1996. side A - 1. It's ok // 2. Did you hear that boys!! // 3. The venus cook book // 4. Be no good. side B: 5. GR-47-80 // 6. Where's Charlie's Dog // 7. Party (sugar tips) // 8. TGV // 9. Improv noise. Band: António Manzarra (guitar/vocals); Renato Feliciano (guitar/vocals); Luís Capinha (bass/vocals); Luís Ferreira (drums).
· bee018 - My Best Nose – “?” - 21'24" tape featuring members of ex-Peach Bloom and Velveteen. They have a distinctive + very intelligent sound, this tape changed the face of Bee Keeper. The portuguese Versus. Yellow tape recorded in Latina Europa Estúdios in 1996 by João M. and Luís. side A: 1. Bus // 2. The Cat's Names // 3. I got cable // 4. Madness and Happiness. side B: 5. Indians // 6. Things to do in 5 minutes // 7. The Computer Game. Band: Paulo; Lena; Bruno Durte.
· bee019 - Everground – “Acid Candy” - finally the 1st all-girl band on this label! They're areound 15/18 years-old, play amazingly, Carla has a really powerful voice + tons of energy live. Also a single very soon.
· bee20/milk02 - Supermarket Music/This is not a Damage Fanclub Tribute - Compilation CD with 21 bands. it's a 2 in 1 as the first 10 bands cover Damage Fanclub songs + the other 11 do songs of their own. Come with a 26 page "book". Everything started when we thought about doing a Damage Fanclub record. But, eventually, they broke up and we thought it would be fun doing them a tribute album. Some bands were already doing some Damage covers, cuz they were always a bit carismatic, although we really don't know why. Almost all the bands we talked to liked the idea and we got 10 cover songs. At the same time we heard bands that we would like to have on record, but playing their own musics, and so we ended up with a kind of double CD.

Playing Damage Fanclub covers: JUHX; Toast; Pinhead Society; Bunnie; Us Forretas Ocultos; Gasoleene; Stereoview; More Republica Masonica; Radioactive Man; X-Acto.

Playing their own songs: Dr. Frankenstein; Captain Clown; Acid Flowers; Marbles; Teenage Bubblegum; Jamie; Blister; Velveteen; Timmy's Milk; Alien Picnic; Duendes do Umbigo. Edition of 500.
· bee21/milk03 - Gasoleene - single on red vinyl. 3 songs including a version of Little's Loch Ness Monster sung by Elsa. Handmade sleeves. Edition of 100.
· bee23 - Captain Clown – “Seven superheroes in a pink driven ambulance with their favorite taxi driver” - delicious addictive pop sounds. It's great cuz they have 3 vocalists and their lyrics are always about true stories. Capt. Clown features the brothers of som Mammies&Kids kids.
· bee24 - Alien Picnic – “For heaven's sake” - They're from Castelo Branco just like Captain Clown. Soft pop with tasty boy/girl vocals. That teenage indie pop touch...
· bee25 - Galore – “Take two” - this is the band of my friend Miguel Afonso. Simple songs, a bit too primary sometimes, 3 of these songs rock, the other 3 so-so. The band features a member of Mary Jane.
· bee26 - Blister – “Crumb of happiness” - a total surprise, it's one of those tapes where it's not possible to choose wich song is the best as they're all fucking AMAZING!
· bee27 - Mary Jane - this is the latest Bee Keeper surprise release! A blasting girl quintet, they're the first band to enter the Beehive by mail, this is serious stuff!
· bee30/milk04 – Toast – “Try me” – CD with 11 songs, produced by Rafael Toral, 1997. All songs are hits, it's hard to choose your favorite. Probably "Brightest Star" will be turned into a videoclip and have it broadcasted on Spray. Short 2 minute songs from this charismatic kids.
· bee?? - My Best Nose – “Details of Domestic Life” - 7'' single , co-released with the band - Bee Keeper/Milkshake/My Records. I call their sound distinct cuz they don't sound like any other indie rock band in Portugal. Features members of Velveteen and 3 ex-Peach Bloom members. Edited in 1997, 100 copies on yellow vinyl.
· bee?? - Everground - 7" single by the 4 riot girls Everground, produced by Jorge Imperial, bee keeper/milkshake records, 1997. 100 copies.
· bee?? - My Best Nose – "Thank God For Women And Coke", CD by My Records/Bee Keeper/Garagem. 1997.
· bee?? – X-Acto – “The new child” - 7" single by ataque sonoro/bee-keeper/milkshake. Blue record with the songs "anchor", "new child" and a Embrace cover.
· bee keeper – Jaguar – s/t – 11 songs in cd recorded in 1999. Mens and womens, dance to the beat! This is the result of some experiences Jaguar has tried throughout a year of existence or so. All the members have been “famous” in several so-so half-famous bands. Some songs were recorded at home, on 4-tracks, others at Margem Sul Estúdio, STS Studio and Stage 2 – UNI: hates, loves, desires, peoples, places, mistakes, lives, fornication. When playing live, they sometimes make up the lyrics as they sing along to those groove-box-multi-effect-pedal-organ-fuelled songs. The Jags are: Filipa+João Valente = vocalz, tambourine; Nuno = bass; João Osório + Eduardo = guitarz; Rodrigo = drumming, grooveboxing
· bee?? – The Sullens – 7" single recorded in STS Estúdios in Sacavém. side A: 1. Kerosene // 2. Petrified; side B: 3. Seringa // 4. Nokesh Blues. Edited in Sept. 2000.