Xtra Mile Recordings is pleased to announce that it will release Esmé Patterson's third album; We Were Wild on CD and limited edition red vinyl on 11 November 2016. The album is available to preorder on physical formats from our shop. You can download the album now from iTunes.
Watch the video for 'No River' below:
When you're used to something, routine can be the most fun thing to smash to pieces. So it was that Esmé's efficient, straight-from-live recordings that served her so well for debut All Princes, I and breakthrough album 2014's Woman To Woman were jettisoned in favour of a prolonged period of pre-production. With it came splashes of vibrant colour, a swirl of hazy reverb, a twang of country and some sharper, more distorted and choppier electric guitars. It all lends necessary contrast and depth to the albums theme of seeking what Esmé's spirit needs, and indeed perhaps helping the listener on their way too, as explicitly suggested in 'Find It'.
'Feel Right' is a high energy opener, a happy-go-lucky Esmé careening into early 2000s garage rock. As a statement of intention lyrically and musically, it goes a long way to explaining the rest of the album, while sounding a little off kilter from it. ‘No River’ is a little more familiar but with the misty echoes and brittle sounds promised earlier, all allowing Esmé's evocative voice to swim in textured waters. 'The Waves' draws the sound underwater, adding a murkier, mysterious swarm of sound. 'Waitin' Ain't Gettin'' pedal steels to safety, gliding on a gorgeous shimmering melody. Lynchpin track 'Find It' has an almost doo-wop verse and chiming chords contrasting a sober warning about waiting too long to seek what you desire.
We Were Wild is a cohesive but experimental album, teasing further ambitions without losing the glorious clutch of melodies and harmonies that hammers Esmé's songwriting into your heart every time. Last time around, Esmé broke stereotypes and the one-dimensional views on females in songs. This time she's snapping her own restraints and weaving her way to more freedom than she ever thought she could have.
Catch Esmé on tour this winter when she supports Frank Turner throughout November and December as well as her own headline show in London. Esmé says:
"Really looking forward to my British Entrance (‘brentrance’) tour this November and December, opening for the one and only Frank Turner! Thanks so much to the wonderful folks at Xtra Mile for releasing We Were Wild to the rest of the world, it's such a pleasure working with that rad team. See you soon, UK!"
All dates are below. Find dates and ticket links here:
NOVEMBER
Tue 15 Dublin @ The Ruby Sessions, Doyles Bar – headline show
Wed 16 Dublin @ Olympia Theatre
Fri 18 Salisbury @ City Hall
Mon 21 Liverpool @ O2 Academy Liverpool
Tue 22 Carlisle @ Sands Centre
Wed 23 Doncaster @ Dome
Fri 25 Coventry @ The Empire
Sat 26 Cardiff @ The Great Hall
Sun 27 Oxford @ New Theatre
Mon 28 Exeter @ The Great Hall
Wed 30 Reading @ Hexagon
DECEMBER
Thu 1st Leeds @ University Refectory
Fri 2nd Aberdeen @ The Garage
Sat 3rd Edinburgh @ Usher Hall
Mon 5th Scunthorpe @ Baths Hall
Tue 6th Warrington @ Parr Hall
Wed 7th Newcastle @ Northumbria Uni
Fri 9th Nottingham @ Rock City
Sat 10th De La Warr @ Pavilion
Sun 11th Norwich @ UEA
Mon 12th Guildford @ G Live
Tues 13th London @ Servant Jazz Quarters – Headline show
Wed 14th Portsmouth @ Guildhall
facebook.com/EsmePattersonMusic / Twitter @EsmePatterson / esmepatterson.com