by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
Back in 2020 we were introduced to London synth punk quartet Es, a band that make sinister post-punk with a relentless immediacy. Less of Everything, their debut album was a blast of icy disdain and radiant synths, plodding and pounding with a dark embrace of melody. It’s a great record, built on nuanced songs, kicking down doors and establishing Es as a band to watch. The band return with Fantasy, a new EP due out April 7th via Upset The Rhythm (Terry, Historically Fucked, Shake Chain), a record split between claustrophobic and danceable punk carnage. If lead single “Swallowed Whole” is anything to go by, we’re all in for another treat.
Like much of Es’ music, “Swallowed Whole” opts for an instant approach, swarming right into the taut rhythm and skeletal grit. The band lock right in with dense bass and abrasive synth repitition, peeling away at our senses with a feeling akin to anxiety set to boil. It’s minimalist but utterly thick, with the walls closing in around the chaos, led to perfection by the commanding vocals, a reminder that when it feels like your thoughts are going to bury you alive, it’s time to let go.
Speaking about the song, Es’ Maria Cecilia Tedemalm shared:
"Musically the writing process behind ‘Swallowed Whole’ is a bit hazy for me, but I very vividly remember getting super excited when listening to the first rough demo over and over again and writing almost all the lyrics while walking to the bus stop 7 minutes from my house. Once I had the first line down the rest just came flowing. I think I had a lot of pent up frustration just itching to get out as thematically the song taps into some quite frantic and raw emotions. It’s about teetering on a knife's edge and wanting to escape yourself and your current circumstances before they completely devour you. We shot the video for it at our friend's recording studio called Head Cold in Bermondsey. The idea originally was to be "Swallowed Whole" in smoke but sadly the smoke machine we borrowed wouldn't work so it came out a bit more like maybe we're playing at your highschool under the sea themed prom."