Espers Espers

[Locust; 2004]

Styles: psychedelic folk, acid folk, baroque
Others: Fairport Convention, Linda Perhacs, Pentangle


I tried for days to listen to Espers' self-titled debut album all the way through. Some days, the slow drone booked me a one-way ticket to the land of Nod. Other days, the dark and depressing mood left me mopily bumming around the house, whining more than usual. Eventually, I found the right time for Espers: a rainy Sunday afternoon.

The folksy Philadelphia trio, consisting of Greg Weeks, Meg Baird, and Brook Sietinsons, has considerable skill and a variety of instruments. With dulcimers, acoustic guitars, wind chimes, and a flute they stole from the Renaissance Fair, Espers lilts through eight songs. Beyond the obvious folk rock influences, Espers apparently slipped into a time warp and came back with a baroque music sound. The guitar plucking that runs the length of many tracks might have been written by Bach if he was a depressed folk rocker.

Espers' sound is musically light and emotionally heavy. The album's theme is dark and thoughtful, but it's played in an airy, delicate arrangement. Weeks sings lead on most of the songs, but he is never very compelling. I never really cared for what he was saying. Weeks also shares the microphone with Baird's breathy voice on a few tracks and sits quietly for the opening track, "Flowery Noontide." The problem with Espers is that the songs all share the same basic formula, and things get somewhat repetitive too early into the album. A little bit of guitar, a little bit of singing, throw in the dulcimer, and repeat. Espers rarely bother to change their music's pace or mood until the last two tracks, "Daughter," and "Travel Mountains."

That's why I couldn't listen to Espers. They're working from a limited palette of musical colors. The songs quickly become a drone-fest, and some tracks take too long to end. Sometimes they break the pattern, but you're going to have to wait through half the album. Espers was great for my Sunday afternoon, but I hope next time they come up with something for the rest of the week.

1. Flowery Noontide
2. Meadow
3. Riding
4. Voices
5. Hearts and Daggers
6. Byss and Abyss
7. Daughter
8. Travel Mountains