Folk hero Beans on Toast appears unphased by massive change. His lyrics have worked well and dependably so on an array of topics that crash into each other with the immense and charismatic force expected of an Essex-born singer. Appropriate or not, the latest venture of the usual drug and politics-themed works is a children’s album, The Fascinating Adventures of Little Bee. An articulate piece of work from a singer whose debut album stuffed 50 tracks into a debut double LP. Talk about prolific. Appearing to widen that range just that little bit further, Jay McAllister hones in his skill for acoustics and powerful music with an album for kids, but to be enjoyed by just about everyone.
Opening track The Sea is as lovely as expected for a children’s album. Beans on Toast proves throughout The Fascinating Adventures of Little Bee that rhyming structure is key to any track. Music aimed at a particular audience does not mean it cannot be enjoyed by others. The Fascinating Adventures of Little Bee is a lovely bit of work from an artist that has mainly catered to a rebellious, grounded side of life. Teaching patience on The Woods gives another track of reliably calm folk riffs, but The Town swings in with a superb, catchy piece. It’s what Ringo Starr wishes he could do with his current works. As hard as it is to get up in arms about a children’s album that strikes through as a clear passion project, The Fascinating Adventures of Little Bee has a routine and enjoyable system to it.
Throwing out several genres with some nicely flavoured lyrics throughout, this Beans on Toast feature is an essential teaching tool. It opens up great life lessons and mixes them with quality, short tracks that are just the right, light length for the target audience. Back in Time will no doubt be a crowd pleaser, said crowd being young children or drunk punks holding out for these tracks to be included in the regular setlist. Rightly so, these are good tracks and Beans on Toast must be keenly aware of the impact The Fascinating Adventures of Little Bee will have.
If there were ever a time for quality musicianship driven toward youngsters taking their first steps into music, then Beans on Toast is up there with The Wiggles’ cover of Elephant. Key to the core of any musical group is earnest intention, and with The Fascinating Adventures of Little Bee, Beans on Toast proves himself not just an artist with great scope, but one of superb quality. An articulate and well-balanced piece that will spark wonder and positive atmospheres through its series of light delights. Part of that appeal comes from how left of field it is, but another part of Beans on Toast’s work here is driven by the same qualities found on his earlier albums. Certainly a change in pace lyrically, but when the musicianship and quality instrumentals surround that, it creates an enjoyably light album that certainly leads on as a potential learning tool for the target audience.
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