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Album Review: Sylvan Esso Sylvan Esso

Amorina Fitzgerald Hood

"North Carolina’s Sylvan Esso deliver folked-out harmonies, dancefloor beats and wordy, rhythmic lyrics to enchanting effect."

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North Carolina's Sylvan Esso deliver folked-out harmonies, dancefloor beats and wordy, rhythmic lyrics to enchanting effect. It is the perfect marriage of Appalachian-influenced-folk singer Amelia Randall Meath's vocals and the metallic percussion and whirring synths of Made Of Oak's Nicholas Sanborn. The chanted repetition and child-like melodies of Hey Mami and H.S.K.T. are mesmerising, Come Down shows off Meath's a cappella background and the metallic percussion and whirring synths of Coffee hypnotise. Standout tracks are Dress, sexy and dark – like Alt-J fronted by Regina Spektor – and Could I Be is packed with hooks and groove.