College Times

Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Music

Media Credit: Daniel Coston, Drag City

Espers
III
(Drag City)
Grade: B

The world has been wondering and worrying for more than three years: whither Espers, with no new album since their acclaimed II? Not to worry, Philly's foremost acid-folk ensemble was doing occasional area gigs while the members pursued solo and side projects.

III marks their prodigious return, a deep, all-original collection documenting growth as they've trimmed down to a quintet (vocalist Greg Weeks has added bass to his electric guitar, mellotron, synth, and piano duties). All signature elements of Espers' rich, uniquely tart pastoral sound are present, including Brooke Sietinsons' acoustic guitar and Helena Espvall's cello. The vibe is almost jaunty at times; overall, it's less dirgelike and more Denny - as in Sandy Denny, the late singer of England's landmark folk-rock group Fairport Convention. Espers co-vocalist Meg Baird exquisitely recalls Denny on "Caroline" and elsewhere, sans English accent or any other aping. (Such are Baird's eerie powers, she can even make a soft-rock stinker like Bob Welch's "Sentimental Lady" sound beguiling, as she non-ironically did when performing with Kurt Vile and others at an ICA art opening last February.) Throughout, Weeks - who recorded III at his Hexham Head studios - embellishes with crystalline, gently cutting, downright (Robert) Fripp-like guitar tones.

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