Elena Rogers - Always Trying EP

 

I only have to ask myself one question. How did I not know about her before this EP. particularly with Jamie Hoover being involved, who is more than well known to us? If a song had not been sent in as a submission for the Listening To This Week Playlist, I would probably still be in the dark.

Apart from realising that I don't know or hear everything under my own steam, this is one of the rare times that an artist hits the bullseye here. It is everything that we love in spades, Intelligent Pop, Prog, Psych Pop, Indie and the arrangements are quirky, unexpected and totally enthralling. 

It did have me questioning how well we support female artists, whether solo or leading a band. We've never been accused of being male dominated, but we sort of are, despite our success with the likes of Tamar Berk, The Beths and Corner Laughers. It isn't our intention ever to be sexist, personally I think it's the material that we get in, but maybe I would say that.

In defence here, Elena Rogers is not like any other female artist that I've heard. When I think of Prog and Psych in particular, female vocalists tend to go for shouty vocals or something whispering and ethereal, neither which would appeal to us.

The arrangements across the four songs would take a listener a week to direct. Complex, yet incredibly melodic. Direction changing in an instance. The song that I was sent is the opener Trying Aways Trying is mind-blowing. It is like five songs in one and particularly Toytown.

Technical Thing is a little more straight ahead, certainly lyrically and it is incredibly adept. There's a circus atmosphere to the arrangement with a particularly wonderful brass arrangement. It comes across as more personal, but still has all the tricks and quirks in what Rogers does.

A Little Bit Of Lovely changes tack big time. More Indie Pop, New Wave maybe, but unbelievably catchy and sassy. The Way I Feel Inside is almost a ballad, a show song even. The most accessible song on display and more vocal led showing the full variety of Rogers's talent.

Always Trying is an absolute identikit of the music that we adore. It may struggle elsewhere with listeners who want to label music. But listeners here are far more adaptable and when they hear great know it. I'm off to listen to all of the back catalogue. It's very rare for me to embedall four songs of an EP in the review, usually just two, so you can tell how highly I rate this release.

You can listen to and buy the EP here.

.....................