EBB - 2022 - Mad & Killing Time

(47:52; Boudicca Records)

Track list:
1. Vorspiel / Grieg's Diner 2:49
2. The Animal Said I 6:22
3. Tension 6:43
4. Hecate 6:26
5. What Under What 5:51
6. Violet Is Tits 3:57
7. Krystal at the Red Light 5:01
8. Confess 5:28
9. Mary Jane 5:15

Line-up:
Erin Bennett - vocals, guitars, trumpet
Anna Fraser - drums, tabla, percussion
Bad Dog - bass
Suna Dasi - synthesizers, vocals
Nikki Francis - organ, synthesizers, piano, Mellotron, flute, saxophone, clarinet
Kitty Biscuits - percussion, spoken words, backing vocals


Prolusion.
UK based band EBB, formerly know as Erin Bennett Band, is a colourful band with a colourful history, exploring their craft in an art collective in Scotland. Following an initial EP back in 2019 the band launched their full length debut album "Mad & Killing Time" this fall through the label Boudicca Records.

Analysis.
EBB's take on progressive rock is an inclusive one, with the band not really seeing any particular boundaries that need to be followed. Which is always refreshing. It is also easy to hear that some of the members have a past in a hard rock band, and they have brought the impulses from that past into their more progressive rock oriented present for sure. But without focusing overly much on the progressive hard rock one might expect given that description.

Instead we find a band that are as fond of pastoral landscapes with a folk or acoustic base as they are in dreamladen and elegant cosmic flavored journeys, and occasionally blending elements from those particular orientations too. The aforementioned progressive hard rock will come and go here, and will also incorporate elements from one or both of the aforementioned directions. A few nods in the direction of neo-progressive rock find their way into the landscapes of this production too, alongside details and elements with a more clear cut symphonic progressive inspiration. That the album as such kicks off with a composition closer aligned to chamber rock probably says a lot about the width and the scope this band has as a creative unit, and that they slide in some elements without any distinct progressive orientation from time to time indicates a band that probably aren't all that concerned about following established traditions either. Given the background of some of the members, I think that is a reasonable assumption to make.

This is a band with a past and presumably a present too where freedom of expression has been an important issue, and where the freedom to be yourself is something I would guess is a bit of a holy grail and holy goal. And they most certainly express themselves musically on this album, and while musically they are at a very different place, there's something about the attitude of this production, the feelings and emotions I get when I listen to this album, that makes me think of Toyah Wilcox from back in the day and a song called 'The Packt' in particular. There is a similarity there that exists on an emotional plane somewhere, and possibly in terms of approach and execution of ideas too. A bit wild, a tad untamed, and possibly hurt or hurting, or well aware of what it feels like to be in such a state.

The unconventional manners of the band is also shown in the physical release of this album. EBB have chosen to opt away from any of the traditional solutions, and instead made an art book with high quality pictures and some personal notes, in addition to the song lyrics and the technical release data being present. With the CD itself placed on the last inner page in a plastic cover. While they aren't the first band to create something like this, it is one of the first bands I have heard about that have been so elaborate when releasing their debut album.

I note that the album has been given a mix and production I would tend to describe as honest. If that is a deliberate choice, a result of budget restraints or both I don't know. The balance and instrument separation are very fine, hence there aren't any quality issues with this aspect of it all, but it is a sound that gives me a bit of an 80's vibe and an impression of no studio overdubs or other enhancements being used.

Conclusion.
EBBs first full length album is a nice and compelling venture into the landscapes of progressive rock by a band that gives the impression of being very much concerned with having the freedom to express themselves in the creative arts and presumably also in other parts of life. An unconventional blend of many conventional orientations of the genre, in some ways one might describe this as classic progressive rock explored with a rebellious approach and a little bit of a punk attitude. An album well worth spending some time with if this is a description that sounds intriguing.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, November 2022

Links:
https://www.ebbband.com/
https://www.boudiccarecords.com/