Always eloquent and deliciously spooky, Esben And The Witch bring their ‘quality emo for adults’ sound back to Brighton in March. Having relocated to Berlin last year (as we found out when we interviewed them), this gig should be a bit a homecoming. It forms the latest in a long line of touring and the band’s most recent release, ‘A New Nature’, is testament to their live performance skills – taped live and more heavily acoustic than their previous but equally spine-thrilling releases including the astounding ‘Hexagons’ EP.

Few of the current crop of gut wrenching rock performers can promise the poise and quiet intensity that Esben deliver, and the long spell of touring ought to have honed the groups skills even further. Expect Rachel Davies’ tremulous vocals and bass to anchor and guide the guitar and drum accompaniment (from Thomas Fischer and Daniel Copeman) through swooping, soaring and sinking ‘songs’ with something like the effect of a soul massage.

Personally, SOURCE can’t wait to get inside the concrete bunker of the Green Door Store and lock into a trance-like sonic state with the trio, and what with the naturally less-polished but equally fascinating experimental glitch-jazz-techno sounds emanating from Hirvikolari kicking off the night, we will be getting in early for a front-and-centre spot. See you there.

Green Door Store, Friday, 11th March, 2016
Poster art by Billy Mather Illustration