ESA : How Pure Would Your Utopia Be? [2008]

The sophomore release of British musician Jamie Blacker’s solo project, ESA (Electronic Substance Abuse), shows that the positive critical reactions his debut offering were quite deserved and that the artist was still capable of improving the quality and creativity of his work. In a genre that is on the verge of becoming saturated, ESA has been gaining some well-deserved recognition by producing work that, though not flawless, stands well from the crowd and is sure to be remembered.

MORE ...

Less straightforward and in some stylistic aspects unexpectedly more subtle than the preceding album, in “How Pure Would Your Utopia Be?” ESA once more explores religious themes and their relation with the human condition – in particular in the darker corners of the mind. Not forgetting that part of the album is aimed at making people move on the dancefloor, a situation where any metaphorical subtleties are bound to be lost on the audience, ESA’s personal approach nevertheless skilfully eschews the obvious and the bombastic, instead leaving space for the listener to assemble the pieces of the aural puzzle and fill in the gaps with his own interpretation of the metaphors presented herein. With an overall epic feeling to it, there is also room for contrasting melancholy, a melancholy that becomes all too obvious in later tracks and where the artist shows how he has matured artistically since the previous album. Perhaps the true strength of “How Pure Would Your Utopia Be?” lies not so much in the more intensely rhythmic tracks (that roughly concentrate in the first part of the album) but rather in the calmer tracks, tracks that could be almost said to be laidback, if it wasn’t for the omnipresent feeling of underlying tension and, in a few tracks, hints of resignation.

01 Dialogue 3:39
02 Your Blood Is My Blood 4:27
03 Paradise Inside / Punishment Defined 4:57
04 Principals Of A Paradisic Resolve 6:15
05 Cursing 5:22
06 Absolute Utero 4:07
07 In Lust We Trust 5:55
08 How Pure Would Your Utopia Be? 5:43
09 Randomly Selected Drawbacks Of The Human Condition 6:52
10 Intense Deceit And A Thousand Empty Promises 6:14
11 You Do Not Belong Here 7:11


>> DOWNLOAD

ESA : Themes Of Carnal Empowerment Pt. 1: Lust [2012]

  Over three years after "The Sea and the Silence", ESA returns with  
  part one of a dual-part concept release for 2012 entitled "Themes  
  of Carnal Empowerment".Taking inspiration from the very meaning of 
  lust and concentrating on the energy and instability that often  
  results, this new collection of rhythmic industrial stompers  
  promises to be all that ESA fans have been waiting for and more.  
   
  Eleven infectious new tracks display the groovier, more energetic  
  side of ESA. Combining hard, addictive rhythms with dark and  
  seductive hooks, each piece creates a truly enveloping experience  
  which rarely takes the foot off the pedal. From the solid rolling  
  rhythm of "Red Passage Overture" to the groove-laden viciousness  
  of "Wretch" and the distressing noisescapes of "Loss", part one of 
  "Themes of Carnal Empowerment" finds ESA at his most mature and  
  damaging yet.  
   
  With jaw-dropping artwork centered around the concept of lust  
  "Themes Of Carnal Empowerment Part One" is a no-brainer for heavy  
  industrial fans who like their rhythmic noise with a little more  
  substance and depth.  



01. Red Passage Overture 
02. With This Cold Kiss I Will Wound 
03. The Plot Sickens 
04. Carved Scars Of Carnality 
05. Black Trip 
06. Wretch 
07. Themes Of Carnal Empowerment (Feat. Blue Mayhem & Riotmiloo)
08. The Relevant Flesh 
09. Bliss 
10. This Is Not Love 
11. Loss (Prurient Symphony)


>> DOWNLOAD