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Product Description
Product Description
Wash the Sins not Only the Face is the second album from Brighton-based trio Esben and the Witch. To make their second album, Esben and the Witch questioned, challenged and rewired their past to find the way to their future. They wanted the album to unfurl like a journey, like a day, where opening songs are possessed of a brightness, an optimism that ebbs away over the record’s course.
Unlike debut album Violet Cries, the lyrics of Wash the Sins not Only the Face were written solely by Rachel Davies and are influenced by surrealism.
Unlike debut album Violet Cries, the lyrics of Wash the Sins not Only the Face were written solely by Rachel Davies and are influenced by surrealism.
Product Description
New 2013 album! Frosty dream-pop 'n' transcendent psych-folk from the UK trio, for fans of Bridezilla and Zola Jesus. Includes "Deathwaltz".
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Gannon
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD
Despite its direct translation from a Greek palindrome, there's something slightly clunky about that album title and it's not the only problem needing mention here, for there's been something mildly amiss throughout the majority of the small Esben And The Witch catalogue to date.
As dark and claustrophobic as their debut LP Violet Cries was, for example, it only truly seemed to come alive on stage where, amongst other things, those monolithic hand-drums served as a sombre rallying cry to the cold at heart. On record, for the most part, these same sounds simply arrived, swirled around and left as a mysterious whole with few glimpses as to an underbelly and with fewer still lasting impressions.
Wash The Sins Not Only The Face is thus a more approachable recording, one built less around oppressive aesthetics and more around Rachel Davies`s fine vocal. There are however plusses and minuses to this approach. Though more intimate - and here arguably creepier - exposed song-craft requires songs and this is where Wash The Sins Not Only The Face partially falls down.
First things first, though friendlier than its predecessor, this is no singles album despite it being more than possible to coerce such material out stark ballads, chilly pop and generally Gothic manoeuvres. Probably plumping for the up-tempo "Deathwaltz" from a lack of choice then, its lengthy closing instrumental isn't nearly as face-meltingly interesting as its title promises and whilst its brief and noisy counterpart "Despair" is better it also lacks identity. Perhaps not commercially painting itself in the best light therefore, it's a pleasant surprise then to find moments of less showy beauty in the album's shadows.... Read more ›
As dark and claustrophobic as their debut LP Violet Cries was, for example, it only truly seemed to come alive on stage where, amongst other things, those monolithic hand-drums served as a sombre rallying cry to the cold at heart. On record, for the most part, these same sounds simply arrived, swirled around and left as a mysterious whole with few glimpses as to an underbelly and with fewer still lasting impressions.
Wash The Sins Not Only The Face is thus a more approachable recording, one built less around oppressive aesthetics and more around Rachel Davies`s fine vocal. There are however plusses and minuses to this approach. Though more intimate - and here arguably creepier - exposed song-craft requires songs and this is where Wash The Sins Not Only The Face partially falls down.
First things first, though friendlier than its predecessor, this is no singles album despite it being more than possible to coerce such material out stark ballads, chilly pop and generally Gothic manoeuvres. Probably plumping for the up-tempo "Deathwaltz" from a lack of choice then, its lengthy closing instrumental isn't nearly as face-meltingly interesting as its title promises and whilst its brief and noisy counterpart "Despair" is better it also lacks identity. Perhaps not commercially painting itself in the best light therefore, it's a pleasant surprise then to find moments of less showy beauty in the album's shadows.... Read more ›
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.0 out of 5 stars
1 review
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Follow-up Album
26 Jan 2013
By Ashley
- Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase
While it isn't much different from their first album Violet Cries, it is just as enjoyable. It's haunting and beautiful, and if you loved Violet Cries, you will love this one as well.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
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