ELSEE - Eggshells

Stream Eggshells here (Soundcloud)
Read my review of Every December here (MyFestivePop)

Gather round one and all, gather. Now I must confess that I only discovered the debut single, Eggshells, from ELSEE via her rather heartwarming Christmas song Every December (review link above) - but if the magic of the season can gift me with solid rock-infused pop I can enjoy all the live long year then I'm all for it. ELSEE describes her music as "infectious, blues-tinged hooks and dance inducing rhythms" which puts her somewhere between Sophie B Hawkins and Sophie Ellis Bextor; regardless of where her influences come for, they make for an exhilarating listen thanks to the use of talent over technology (real live instruments and stirring vocals with no studio trickery sucking the soul out of them). It is rather telling that this takes old school inspirations yet feels vibrant and fresh. Eggshells is a genre-hopping jam that revels in it's eclectic nature. The rasping harmonica is a pleasing juxtaposition against the shoulder shimmying rhythms, while electric guitar provides a frisson of ballsy attitude that perfectly matches the singing style of the lady herself. Lyrically, it is all about being yourself with someone - comfortable enough to know that you don't need to tiptoe round issues, secure enough to know honesty would break the relationship (whatever that relationship might be). It is an impressive debut, all the more so because it sounds like the type of singer and song that has been in your record collection for years (I say record because Eggshells sounds like it was created for vinyl). Apparently there will be a four song EP released by ELSEE early in 2017 - but in the meantime run, don't walk (on Eggshells) to embrace this as fervently as ELSEE embraces performing this stunning song. You won't regret it.