The Essex Green

Cannibal Sea

(Merge)

Record Review by Michele Fair

When listening to The Essex Green’s third full-length album, The Cannibal Sea, you’d never guess the trio was based in Brooklyn, NY; their writing and musical styles lean more towards a beautiful, dreamy Southern-based tone.  All three members contribute to the vocals on the album, but it’s really female singer Sasha Bell’s strong, gorgeous voice that gives the band a definitive edge.  The first two tracks of the album, “This Isn’t Farm Life” and “Don’t Know Why (You Stay),” send you immediately into their whirlwind world of contemplation and “grooveability.”  The rest of The Cannibal Sea takes a more mellow turn, and flows like a sonic stream.  It’s difficult to define the musical influences of The Essex Green, but the poppy keyboards, smooth harmonies, and driving rhythms are reminiscent of a combination of indie bands like Belle and Sebastian, and classic ‘60s pop like The Monkees.

The Cannibal Sea contains gems like “Rue De Lis,” which is a countrified and upbeat tune that takes you back to the Creole streets of New Orleans, or sitting on a front porch in North Carolina with a backyard barbecue at sunset.  “Uniform” is a brilliant song that showcases Bell’s amazing vocals.  She croons, “Do you like my dress / It’s from ’74 / Ripped in the arms from the girl before.”  For fans who have never heard The Essex Green, The Cannibal Sea is an excellent introduction.  For those who have been fans over the past few years, the new album is a real treat and another great accomplishment from this extraordinarily talented trio of musicians.