CD of The Week

It’s been four years since Sylvan Esso released their last album, and they’ve spent the time wisely, taking a rest from the road while tinkering extensively with new tracks that make up their latest release, Ow ∞ (said “ow infinity”). The married duo of Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn are now putting out music on their own label, Psychic Hotline, and enjoying that freedom on their new record. That includes bringing guests into the studio. Rather than their usual two-person setup, the new material features contributions from Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche, Wye Oak’s Jenn Wasner, and a number of additional musicians.

Sylvan Esso were greatly affected by Hurricane Helene, which ravaged their home state of North Carolina two years ago. They revisit this terrifying time on the skittering “Flood Season,” where Meath sings, “Family gotta fly now / Grab everything that you can while you can / Run for the street again.” It crashes right into the guitar-heavy “Hot Slob,” a bit of an ode to being a mess of a person who’s stuck smoking and drinking.

The grooving “Concrete Glen” is built around a sample of Sigur Ros’ “Svefn-g-englar," while the beautiful “Ribbon” is stripped back to just layers of Meath’s unique, recognizable voice. On the new single “Sledge,” climate change rears its ugly head again, as a Musk-like narrator burns the world down: “New beginning is calling down the line / Yeah, you know that we broke it, and don't it look fine? / Thank goodness it's falling apart all the time / Radiation is blooming, the waters rise.” (For more on Sylvan Esso and the future of our environment, please consult their outstanding 2018 single “PARAD(w/m)E.”)

“Jessica” gives Postal Service vibes as Meath honors a friend who passed away. And “On & On” sounds like a classic track from the duo, built on dance beats while looking back at a memory of a perfect day to hold onto when times get bad.

Ow ∞ is a mixed bag as the band embraces the ability to stretch their sound in different directions while retaining what makes them special. Sylvan Esso return to Philadelphia at Franklin Music Hall on Monday, October 12th.