Esben and the Witch: Nowhere

Listening to Nowhere is like getting lost in the woods. First you think you know the way back; then you grow anxious; and then, if you’re lucky, you find your bearings. If you don’t like my analogy, consider the band’s own metaphor. They call the album a “verdant garden teeming with beauty and awe, a place where giant birds eat the dead and the lost seek solace deep in the forests; where women are warriors and freedom and liberation rule supreme; a place where darkness is explored not feared and shadows become reminders of the light.� There’s a bit more to the statement, but you get the idea. On this album, Esben and the Witch created an uncanny headspace, one that is simultaneously familiar and unfamiliar, haunting and comforting.

“Uncanny� is probably a good term for Esben and the Witch in general. For the last ten years, the band has developed a sound that effectively blends gloom and post-rock. Even though their might be called familiar, Esben and the Witch explore their musical spaces effectively. It helps that they have a singer like Rachel Davies leading us through the music. Her voice is strong but it’s not afraid to meander here and there. In the past, I’ve described her voice as amazing and that still holds true for me. Fortunately, Davies is joined by a team that knows how to create and sustain mystery, gloom, and hope. I recommend “Dull Gret� and “The Unspoiled.� If you like what you hear, then go ahead and get lost in the gloom. Don’t worry; you’ll find your way out.

Track Listing:
1. A Desire for Light
. Dull Gret
3. Golden Purifier
4. The Unspoiled
5. Seclusion
6. Darkness (I Too Am Here)

Added: June 13th 2019
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 786
Language: english

[ Printer Friendly Page ]
[ Send to a Friend ]