Espers- The Weed Tree EP (2005) MP3 & FLAC

"Poison's in my bloodstream, poison's in my pride. I'm after rebellion; I'll settle for lies."

What made Espers' self-titled debut so distinctive was its psychedelically-soaked reconstructions of 60s-70s era British Folk, and while The Weed Tree EP occasionally feels more like unreconstructed adoration in comparison, it, nevertheless, finds Espers taking a step forward. This is partly due to the band's expansion to a sextet, giving the arrangements a clarity and depth not found on their debut; however, the primary reason is that Meg Baird's vocals play a more featured role here, sounding more assertive while somehow losing none of their haunting beauty. If Sandy Denny and Jacqui McShee are her touchstones, Baird certainly proves she can hold her own in such company. Although The Weed Tree EP is mostly comprised of covers, the song selection is inspired. "Rosemary Lane," a song most often associated with Bert Jansch, is simply stunning, as Baird powerfully conveys the resigned despair of the song's narrator. Also memorable is the cover of Blue Oyster Cult's "Flaming Telepaths," featuring a duet between Baird and Greg Weeks, with Weeks' guitar sounding every bit as corrosive as the addictions described in the songs lyrics. A future lost classic.

Espers- S/T (2004) MP3 & FLAC

"So we circle and strive and reverse when we drive so we'll never arrive."

While it is clear that the members of Espers are profoundly influenced by the British-Folk scene of the 1960's and 70's, they are also practitioners of a dark brand of psychedelia that, when wedded to their otherwise baroque inclinations, makes for a heady brew best described as an Elizabethan acid-trip. While casual listeners may dismiss Espers as just another derivative hippie-worshiping indie band, this is simply not the case. This debut album positively drips with melancholy, and Espers use their influences as a jumping off point rather than a destination, always taking familiar sounds somewhere new and usually quite foreboding (and where else are you going to hear an auto-harp and acid guitar drone in the same song?). More Espers coming soon.