Sylvan Esso

(Partisan)

Appalachian femme trio Mountain Man and North Carolina psychers Megafaun each pony up a bandmember to Sylvan Esso’s digital outlook. Harmony queen Amelia Meath and bassist Nick Sanborn employ rootsy, organic backgrounds in service of an electronic flourish. The former’s signature vocal play lifts “Hey Mami,” while the latter’s penchant for weighty accompaniment highlights said vox frolic. Crosscurrents are thus familiar, but Sylvan Esso also challenges them to full departure. “HSKT” beats house exclusively, suitable for the club and clearly a vehicle for Sanborn’s electronic experimentation. Meath gets her moment, too, in the sparse layering of closer “Come Down.” The sweet spot between their individual fortes climaxes on the sexy, pulsing “Coffee.” Electro quips work alongside Meath’s measured soprano, both perfectly scaled and bigger than the sum of their parts.

***.5

This article appears in September 26 • 2014.

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