Esben and The Witch

Esben And The Witch, whose name was conceived from a Danish fairy tale, is often classified as indie-goth music. Although this is a very broad description, the band’s new album Wash The Sins Not Only The Face, actually exemplifies that sentiment. Distant and eerie, a rainy day in England is the type of visual backdrop for its musical efforts.

“Shimmering” is the perfect example of this. Minor chord progressions and a creepy demeanor make Rachael Davies’ vocals stand out and feel hypnotic. Davies should be commended for her vocals in Wash The Sins Not Only The Face; they aren’t high power, high note, or high versatility, but they add the necessary human element to this distant sounding band, making it really good at what it does.

It’s interesting to note that the band never loses its composure on the entire album. This creates an ethereal feel that surely takes the listener to a visual mental world. It’s just one of those albums that takes the mind places.

The zenith of Wash The Sins Not Only The Face includes “The fall of Glorieta Mountain” and “Deathwaltz” for their simplicity and lyricism. Yet, the entire album gains points for having a quality similar to what The XX have, but completely different.

Wash The Sins Not Only The Face is not for everyone, but for listeners who like to close their eyes to atmospheric music, with a combination of indie-rock energy, then this album is a must hear.