Have you ever wanted to start a
band in your garage with some friends and some used equipment, then, eventually
make it big? Of course you have, so you get together with your best
friend and maybe someone else you're close with, pickup some instruments, then
start making noise in your parent's garage. Things are going well, so you
come up with a kickass catchy name and go to work writing your own material and
practicing. Everything is shaping up to be really great and you think
that your band might have a real shot until you sit down and try to get some
gigs and you realize...its hard. Very hard in some cases. After
having no luck finding a place to debut your awesome band, you start to give up
the idea all together, until it is just a distant memory. Well, next time
that this happens, just remember Esper Scout (a kickass name), cause that's
exactly how they did it.
Esper Scout is an all female quartet, but trust me, they're are by no means a
glittery pop group. Instead, they create a unique sound that is the
combination of their collective creativity. The two initial members
(Sarah and Kirsty) met in high school and bonded over the sharing of mix-tapes.
They both liked the same kinds of music and the idea of a band and thus,
they embarked on a journey that would eventually lead them to form Esper Scout.
Fast forward a few years to today and their current lineup consists of
Sarah Statham (Vocals/Guitar), Kirsty Morton (Guitar), Rebecca Jane (Bass), and
Lou Brill (Drums). Their first official release occurred in March of 2012
in the form of a 4-track e.p. of remixes (Esper Scout Remixed). Following
that first release, they have released 3 other e.p.s (Gaps in the Border
Fence/In Foreign, Shed Some Light, and Assumpta Tang), their debut mini-album
(Poet Curses), and, their most recent release, a 7" vinyl containing 2 new
singles. Over the course of the releases leading up to Poet Curses, Esper
Scout have developed and refined their sound into a modern combination of
experimental rock, alternative rock, and post-punk with, of course, the 'Esper
Touch'.
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| The cover to Esper Scout's "Poet Curses" |
It is difficult to put Esper Scout into a musical category (except rock, of
course), let alone put their music into words, it is however, possible to
describe the feelings and emotions they evoke with their special brand of rock.
Lets start with their debut mini-album, Poet Curses (October 2013).
The album begins with the song Assumpta Tang, a very good example of the
mood and texture they produce with their music. After a few brief seconds
of amp feedback, the song really begins with an opening riff that is sure to
grab the listeners attention and pull them into the musical journey that is
this album. The suddenness and distortion of the intro add to the sheer
power that drowns out everything else that is happening at that moment as you
are sucked into the music. From there, the song adopts a constant chord
progression with picked notes played over it. This creates an effect not
dissimilar to that that is achieved on Gold Dust Woman (Fleetwood Mac), in that
it adds an air of mystery to the track. The bass' deep tones vibrate
quietly under the main riff, furthering the mysterious mood that the song
emanates. Another major contributing factor to this effect is the lead
singer's voice. Sarah Statham possesses an inexplicably unique quality
and tone to her voice that makes it quite haunting, yet unforgettable.
This package is tied up neatly by a steady drum beat and various fills,
strategically placed throughout the song.
The second song on Poet Curses is also an excellent example of the group's
style and personality. Swallowing the Sun is a reprieve from the
intensity of Assumpta Tang, as it begins with an undistorted picked guitar
intro that is played throughout the entire song. Though you may be
thinking, "Wait, are they doing a cliché ballad now?" Think
again. Though this track is less serious in sound and easier to passively
listen to, it still retains the 'Esper Touch' in that it produces a slightly
off-melancholy mood and evokes feelings that are difficult to describe.
The first major factor that contributes to this mood is the prominent
bass. Through the duration of the song, it is easy to hear the bass'
deep, resonant tones, once again, promoting the 'off' undertone of the track.
The other major factor is Sarah's signature voice that emotes the essence
of Esper Scout's unique sound. Additionally, the drums play a marching
band-esque fill at key points in the song to remind the listener of what's
happening rhythmically and draw attention back to the song.
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| Ester Scout's cover art for "Belay" |
Jumping forward to the present, we can take a look at Esper Scout's most recent
release, the singles Belay and Carpet of a Crest (releases July 7, 2014).
This release finds the band getting more in touch with their post-punk
roots, particularly on Belay. Belay is a faster paced track for Esper
Scout and it maintains an ever-present drum beat throughout the entire song,
giving it a 'living' quality. The rhythm guitar is also more distorted
and constant throughout this track, adding to the liveliness of it.
Carpet of a Crest is somewhat quieter more often, yet it still draws
heavily on the post-punk genre and uses the aforementioned techniques.
One of the many things that makes Belay/Carpet of a Crest an interesting
release for the band is that it is being released on 7" vinyl (it includes
a digital download). This is something that the industry as a whole is
beginning to embrace once again. So its time to break out the old
turntable and drop the needle on this awesome release.
Esper Scout is a creative band that combines older forms of rock with the newer
ones to create their own special brand of good ol' rock and roll. You can
listen to all of their releases (or pre-order their new singles release), see
where they're playing live shows (UK), and find out more information about the
band at their Bandcamp page (http://esperscout.bandcamp.com) or their website (http://www.esperscout.com).
Thank you for visiting my blog and
reading this review. Please feel free to comment on this article
about whatever you feel like (suggestions, what you think of the band,
etc...). If you would like to contact me for any reason, check out the
'Contact' tab above. Have a nice day and rock on!
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