ESP Summer

(Perdition Plastics)
by Bob Ham

This did not look at all interesting when I came across it in my batch of review stuff a week ago. With its ugly artwork (looking like someone had spray painted the words on a series of paper bags almost), I was expecting to hear some lousy hardcore band or some such nonsense. But, before putting the CD in my player, I happened to give the insert a quick glance and was shocked to find two familiar names comprising ESP Summer (Ian Masters, formerly of Pale Saints, and Warren Defever of His Name Is Alive). I was excited to hear this now, expecting some really heavy and spacey guitar work (á la both aforementioned bands) and completely trippy songs. Again, I was shocked away when I found that the music these two decided to go for was a spare, mainly acoustic affair putting the emphasis solely on Ian’s words and leaving only scant space for Warren’s tripped out atmospherics. This is a great CD to pick up if you’re a fan of either of those two groups’ work on 4AD, but also if you’re a fan of the pop music.
(4216 N. Damen, Chicago, IL 60618)