One of my favorite aspects of good electronic music is that the production is just as much in the foreground as the vocals. The two really have to work together in order for the music to be successful; something Sylvan Esso clearly understands. Based out of Durham, North Carolina, Sylvan Esso is the collaboration between vocalist Amelia Meath and electronic musician Nick Sanborn.
I first heard the duo a few months ago when they opened up for Volcano Choir in New York (Justin Vernon is apparently a huge fan), and their sound immediately caught my attention. Their music is a love affair between the accessibility of pop and the avant-garde side of electronic. Meath’s sweet yet sultry voice is impossible to resist, and when combined with Sanborn’s intricate soundscapes composed of skittish percussions, ambient noises, and booming bass, a masterpiece is born.
They currently have two, near-perfect, singles released and are on tour with Minor Alps. I (and Justin Vernon) have a feeling that we will be hearing much more of Sylvan Esso in the near future.
MusicUmpire 