SJ Esau’s most recent album, Small Vessel, was released on Anticon in late June. It’s rare to find music crafted this carefully, indulging in both subtly and aggression. “Experimental Pop” is a partially accurate categorization, but it sides more with experiment than it does with pop. The album is so sporadic and inventive that it’s difficult to convey its style without actually hearing. There seem to be an endless amount of instruments used, along with a good number of short audio clips–some of voices or random sounds– pieced together symphonically. At many points, it is the ensemble of auxiliary sounds that become the focus, but it’s done in a manner that makes it an easy listen. This quote from sjesau.co.uk represents the album’s unique, playful style: “I was recently informed that S.J. Esau is an anagram of A Jesus. Which has done wonders for my self esteem.”

MP3: SJ Esau – Depth Perception Lack