Sylvan Esso-Coffee

I had to stop.

I had to listen and then listen again.

I had to decipher the lyrics.

I swayed to the vibe over and over.

There is some crazy good stuff coming out of North Carolina. A prime example is the song, “Coffee” by Sylvan Esso. Listening a hundred times doesn’t seem like enough. I know I have an obsessive personality, but this is so pleasing, and funky, and cool. It takes a whole lot to excite me when there is no guitar, and it is all voice and electronics. In some places, the beat is even a little off kilter, but I promise if you listen more than once, you might just be hooked. There is something so sexy about this song, the words, and the consistent shift of the percussion shaker. I dare you not to move and groove with the beat. I know my pulse is definitely bubbling at a slow rolling boil.

“True
Its a dance we know the moves
the bow the dip the woo
and though the words are true
the state is old news
Wrap me in your arms
I can’t feel it but
rock me in your arms I can’t feel it but
get up get down
get up get down feel the turn of rotation and stop
see the next one waiting
Get up get down get up get down
get up sentiments the same but the pair of feet change
I know my words will dry upon the skin
just like a name I remember hearing
Wild winters
warm coffee
moms gone
do you love me?
blazing summer
cold coffee
baby’s gone
do you love me?
wrap me in your arms
I can’t feel it but
rock me in your arms
I can’t feel it but
get up get down
get up get down
feel the turn of rotation and stop,
see the next one waiting…..”

photo by Tim Lytvinenko

Sylvan Esso is Amelia Randall Meath and Nicholas Sanborn, from two already respected bands, Mountain Man and Megafaun. They are a  fascinating combination of full on magnificence for the ears. Partisan Records will release this track on March 25th, and the full length, Sylvan Esso, on May 13, 2014. I am waiting and wanting more.