Tag Archives: Es Muss Sein

Female & British | Friday Five

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A new feature and a simple one. It’s Friday. You should be working but you can’t be bothered. Frost will introduce you to five brilliant acts that if you’re not listening to already, then you ought to be. This week the brief is British and Female.

 

Es Muss Sein – a young female singer from Kent., first seen supporting Glasvegas at their recent London show. This track is a live version of ‘Sail’ from her recent ‘Es Muss Sein’ EP.

 

 

She Makes War – in her own words she’s a “London-dwelling gloom-pop solo artist” and one who recently covered Madonna in collaboration with Hope and Social. Below is ‘Exit Strategy, the lead track from her recent ‘Little Battles’ LP. If you’re quick you can catch her on tour now.

 

 

Evans The Death – a slice of Babes in Toyland-esque speed-pop from a great new London band:

 

 

Eliza Newman – ok so she wasn’t born here, or indeed born Newman. When I first saw her live, with previous outfit Bellatrix, she was under the name Eliza Geirsdóttir but let’s not split hairs over a voice this good. Originally from Iceland, now resident in London she writes beautifully complex pop songs. ‘Pie In The Sky’ is the title track to her 2nd solo album, released last year.

 

 

Scout Niblett – originally from Nottingham, now resident in Portland, Oregon, Ms Niblett has been rocking her minimalist sound for over a decade to critical acclaim. This track, ‘Your Beat Kicks Back Like Death’, is a superb mix of drums and vocals. Splendid!

 

 

 

 

 

Glasvegas + Es Muss Sein – Relentless Garage, London | Music Review

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Es Muss Sein

Tonight’s show was opened by Es Muss Sein, a 16 year old singer-songwriter from Kent. EMS was personally invited to open the show by Rab from Glasvegas who found her via her facebook page. Her debut EP has been earning her rave reviews, including here at Frost, and so we took the opportunity to catch her at her biggest live performance to date.

At four songs short it was a quick set. “Wave Goodbye”, “Sail”, “Seeping” and “Those Eyes” give off little more than the EP did. Hauntingly soulful, achingly beautiful. Nerves showed at the start but she grew in confidence with every  strum of her guitar. She told me afterwards that she”doubted she was good enough” and that she was “very scared”. On this performance the only thing you doubt is that she’ll be bottom of the bill for much longer.

Glasvegas

It’s been a few years since I last saw Glasvegas, atop a mountain near Bern, and it’s fair to say a lot’s happened. In those two years the band have released a new album, Europric Heartbreak, lost their original drummer, Caroline McKay, gained a new drummer, Jonna Löfgren (more on her later), but the most striking change in them is they’re no longer fresh faced new kids on the block. They’ve less teeth and more tattoos yet still, after battling the drugs, perils and heartbreak of fame appear to wear the “happy to be here” look.

Frontman James Allen, as usual dressed all in black, looks exactly like Joe Strummer but despite his attire and the fact that he has the look of a man who may bite your neck at any moment, his autobiographical lyrics about his absent father, his social worker and the struggles of growing up in working class Britain gave him an air of vulnerability that had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand.

They began with songs from Mercury Award nominated debut album Glasvegas. Opening song “Flowers & Football Tops”, or in Scottish “Flowers & Fitba Tops”, was written about the reaction to the racially motivated murder in Glasgow of Kriss Donald, a Celtic fan – the same team the band support. It works equally as well as a eulogy for their arch rivals Rangers Football Club, a club staring into the abyss. “Geraldine” comes next, followed by “It’s my own cheating heart . . . ” and the band are on a roll. Hit after hit with the audience. Anthem after working class anthem. It’s a brilliant talent of Allen’s, much like that of Alex Turner and Jarvis Cocker, to turn the mundane aspects of life into anthemic greatness.

Sounds from “Euphoric Heartbreak” didn’t quite stir the same excitement as songs from their previous record but it was an interesting sound and certainly a bit of a departure. Less straightforward rock n roll and a bit more experimental.

It must be said though that new drummer, Jonna Löfgren, is the star of the show. She’s taken over from James Allen as the band’s sunglasses-wearer and oozes rock ‘n’ roll swagger. No sitting down for her though. She stands. All the way through. What you get is pure energy. Imagine Rage Against the Machine’s Brad Wilk dosed to the max on cocaine and pro plus and you’re only halfway there.

Glasvegas tonight in London felt like they were beginning something again. The audience saw a band testing themselves and their boundaries but also a band looking at the mountain off success that they scaled with their first album and thinking “I’ll climb that”. And so they just might!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In that two years the band have recorded a new album, lost their original drummer – Caroline McKay, gained a new one – Jonna Löfgren, bassistPaul Donoghue has lost some teeth, guitarist Rab Allen got some tattoos and singer James Allen nearly lost his mind.

Es Muss Sein – Es Muss Sein EP | Music Review

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Es Muss Sein. Remember the name. It means “it must be in German” and is the nom de guerre of Poppy Wilson, a beautifully soulful little singer-song writer from ever-so-cool Kent.

This, her debut EP, deals in contrasting shades – light and dark, loud and quiet and a sadness that isn’t without hope. In fact it’s the hope she wants you to remember. Nobody does though do they? The music is built around her soulful voice and often minimalist approach to guitar playing. It’s beautiful. It’s genius. Think early Cat Power or the long lost child of Elliott Smith. Go and listen. In years to come you’ll be able to tell your friends that you heard her first.

 

Ess Muss Sein EP is released on 1st May 2012