EMA

Past Life Martyred Saints Souterrain Transmissions* * * *

Erika M Anderson already seems to have a very striking definition of the blues. She earned her stripes in cult outfits Gowns and Amps for Christ, and her solo debut shows a fascination with the darker, more unhinged side of the rock/noise zone. Anderson's knack for channelling this curiosity into primal, searing, majestic earworks keeps the listener gripped throughout. In Anderson's hands, California, The Grey Shipand Butterfly Kniferollick'n'roll on a bed of fuzzy soundscapes, distorted guitars, mesmeric feedback and dramatic intensity. Such diversity works like a charm thanks to Anderson's superb musical cut and singular vision, which is reminiscent of PJ Harvey when she was first hitting her stride. An album that never wavers in its intensity and which bodes well for Anderson's future work.

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Download tracks: California, The Grey Ship, Butterfly Knife