TRACK REVIEW: Sylvan Esso “Coffee”

Sylvan Esso

Sylvan Esso

What’s better at warming brittle bones in the brutal cold than a piping hot cup of coffee?  The only thing I can even think of is the newest track from Brooklyn-based electro-pop outfit Sylvan Esso, and wouldn’t you know, it’s named after everyone’s favorite caffeinated beverage.  The song is less about daily roast and more about sensuous evocations of comfort and home.  Amelia Meath’s lush vocals deliver salient lines like “I know my words will dry upon the skin / Just like a name I remember hearing” before asking “Do you love me?”  Twinkling electronic flourishes and crystalline chimes adorn a thick blanket of bouncy bass, courtesy of Nick Sanborn.  Each element is carefully articulated as the track breathes and stretches around Meath’s eloquent longing.

Sanborn is best known for his work in Megafaun, Meath for her folksy Mountain Man project.  The duo released a 12″ for their equally infectious debut singles “Hey Mami” and “Play it Right” via Trekky in July.  “Coffee” will be released as a 12″ by Partisan Records on March 25th, with a b-side entitled “Dress”.

With playful shout-outs to Tommy James & the Shondells, textural percussion, and vivid imagery, this track is going to stick around like a crush on your favorite barista.