Upset The Rhythm are touching base with a lot of happening female artists at the moment, none more so than London four-piece Es, whose synth-heavy dystopian take on post-punk would have sat very happily on 4AD in 1983, or even Merciful Release, such is the primal vibrancy of the bass guitar.
Of the singular elements that make up the band, it is definitely the bass that grabs the attention, although the sonic space that appears between it, the drums and the spacey, whirling synths leave plenty of opportunity for the sneered, nihilist vocals to pour in your ear, full of post-punk angst. You can’t help but be reminded of Xmal Deutschland, and for me that is only ever a good thing.
There are only nine tracks here, and they rush by with the pairing of the bluff and chewy basslines carrying the rhythm on their delicious shoulders as the melody of the meandering keyboard veers around. The insistent drums sound as though they are coming from a nearby lock-up and the drummer is beating the walls to escape. It is quite a sound that also brings to mind Leeds in 1985, the goth element particularly encapsulated by the numbed but vitriolic vocals that do bring Siouxsie a little to mind, but just as the faintest touchstone. There is even some anger and frustration in the delivery, particularly on the slightly lighter “Mystery”: “What you did to me, will never ease to be, a mystery”.
All in all, Less Of Everything is great, the oblique and poetic lyrics suit the music; the bass, if you are of a certain vintage is to die for, and the insistence on patterns doesn’t tire because the songs are over before you know it, and on that strength, so is the album. It looks great on clear vinyl and the colour-saturated shot of the group makes them look like you shouldn’t tangle with them.
Just immerse yourself in Less Of Everything, crimp your hair and stick your big boots on. Hopefully, they will coming to a town near you soon.-Mr Olivetti-
