Wash the Sins Not Only the Face
A less dense more polished second album delivering on early promise. A textured, atmospheric and impressive collection of more muscular and accessible darkwave pop.
The title to track four of Esben and the Witch's second album – Shimmering – says it all, really. This is a band that, from the first listen, was always destined to be met by adjectives like 'glacial' and 'otherworldly'. 2011’s Violet Cries was a cold and at times difficult listen, but here that deliberate obtuseness has been dialed down slightly in favour of a few more distinctly memorable offerings.
Esben and the Witch's goth rock billing seemed a bit ill-fitting; their debut had the gloomy atmosphere down pat, but it lacked the pomp and theatricality inherent in so much of the genre's best.
ClashMusic: Read an album review of 'Wash The Sins Not Only The Face' by Esben And The Witch, the follow up to 2011’s ‘Violet Cries’.
Esben & the Witch's second album of swirly dream-rock is an album that creeps slowly into the mind, writes <strong>Rebecca Nicholson</strong>
Somewhat disappointing second album from Brighton Gothic sorts. CD review by Thomas H Green