SJ Essau — Small Vessels

Small Vessels is a quirky mix of ; hip-beats, indie rock, punk, folk, pop, turntablism and splats of other genres. Imagine a more conventional take on early Fog, or a very  English take  Beck at his more playful & quirky- but very much with it’s own distinct yet enjoyable flavour.

I’ll have to admit I wasn’t expecting much from this the second album from Uk based SJ Essau; after been very underwelmed by his debut album which just felt too undercooked, amateurish and quirky for it’s own good. But thankfully Small Vessels feels like a collection of real & proper songs, but with out losing an ear for sonic experimentation. The songs are usually tuneful, bright and playful lined with a mixture of Essau English slight geeky indie meets singer-song writer tone, and some nice folky come country female haromise and lead singing.

A few of my favorite moments along the way come in the form of; I threw a wobbly which melds an urgent and memorable indie punk guitar riff with turntable elements, horn pumps and risers with Essau vocals going from quirky/ bedraggled English pop to a ranted chorus.  Or Bubble head with it’s opening looped scratching thumping beats that open up into thumbed 80’s indie pop bass lines before darting into ramshked pop rock chorus. Or the last track What happened that starts out with strummed clean pop guitar vibe before lunching into a ramshackle beats, wavering female vocals, turntable elements & layered up vocals by Essau, before boiling up to a wonderful noise drenched finale that sound like been stuck in a storm.

Small Vessels really is a haphazard & quirky yet very memorable & charming album.Yet more proof that Anticon seem to be getting back on track with their releasers after a few medico years.