Crafting an impactful sound that succeeds in both twangy rock mystique and folk-forward lushness, I’ve Been Here is the new EP from Elise, an artist based Kilkenny, Ireland. Themes within artfully depict a tug-of-war between warming nostalgic familiarity and the drive for something new and greater. EP track “I Don’t Mind” caught our ears last year with its introspective folk and pop melding, and the rest of the EP continues to showcase Elise’s penchant for quality, heartfelt songwriting.
Gripping opener “Remember” enthralls in its mysterious guitar lines — strutting nostalgic shades of “Under the Milky Way” in its progression from moody acoustic strums into a dark-rock delectability. References to “the walls that you build up around you,” invoke the journey of life, and the aforementioned struggle between the familiar and exciting yet daunting. The EP’s title track ensures, building with twinkling piano and an acoustic undercurrent. “Slow down,” a quivering vocal entrancement shows in the chorus, with shades of Fleetwood Mac.
“You Always Told Me” is another standout, capturing a gripping late-night rock twang also conveyed on “Remember.” Elise’s vocals are particularly haunting in their layered immersion, set wonderfully within the piano and guitar work — and chilling especially in the approach to the three-minute turn. I’ve Been Here is a thoroughly riveting success of an EP from Elise.
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“Damn Questions” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
