Esben And The Witch

From: Brighton

Profile: Profile: Tipped for the BBC’s Sound Of 2011 poll, the first UK signing to cult label Matador in six years, and shortlisted for Q Awards’ Next Big Thing trophy, Esben And The Witch are certainly Brighton’s band of 2011. The trio released their debut album Violet Cries this week, which showed how far ahead of the pack they are musically – their so-called nightmare pop combines bleak post-punk with psyched-out beats in an immersive soundscape to support frontwoman Rachel Davies’ all-encompassing vocals. Last year saw them whip up a storm at The Great Escape, as well as support Foals, Deerhunter and The xx. All this from a band who confessed to The Guide’s own Dom Smith last week that they have only been playing their instruments as long as the three-piece has been together.

Warpath (right click on the track to download, left click to stream)

Web site: www.esbenandthewitch.co.uk

MySpace: www.myspace.com/esbenandthewitch

Email: bradandmike@ymail.com