Album Review: Esser - Braveface

Ben Esser is all set to release his debut album Braveface, after significant amounts of coverage as a hotly tipped artist for 2009 and having just toured with the Kaiser Chiefs.  When we caught up with him back in February he described his sound simply as 'pop' but there is definitely something extra thrown in here.

It is a playful sound that combines electro twisted pop with a hint of The Streets thrown into the equation. Each track is individual, and this is what makes Esser a talent to be reckoned with. He doesn't do what's safe and he's prepared to try out new sounds; this creates a rather remarkable offering as a debut album.

Album opener 'Leaving Town' is introduced with a jazz-fest that on first listen seems a poor choice for the opening track, but after a couple of listens, we can see why it has been chosen. With more 'na na na na nas' than the Kaiser Chiefs and Blink 182 put together, it's a singalong that lifts your mood and demonstrates a wide array of styles and speeds.  The lyrics leave a little to be desired and are rather repetitive but it does the job in creating a memorable opening track making you want to hear more.

Album title track 'Braveface' begins with a sound much like it belongs on the CBBC channel, but soon improves. This track is a little Mika-esque, but taken down several octaves and without the bright coloured braces. "Tie a brick to your ankles and jump in the lake", he sings - kids, don't try this at home! So perhaps he doesn't set the best example and we may not take his advice, but at 23-years-old he's still a young 'un.

Single 'Headlock' is a great track to dance along to; it funks things up for a song that would be a great break-dancing soundtrack. It has become apparent by this point on the album that Esser is a big fan of repetitive choruses. We suppose the advantage of this is that by the time we get halfway through each song we can sing along! This track is a concoction of funky electro sounds blended with some block rockin' beats; it's playful and fun. The sounds are mixed in an interesting combination, which is where Esser excels. It is these unique sounds that give him a point of difference.

'Bones' is the most unusual and bizarre offering on the album. It is created from deep verses with a basic concept that are entwined between melodic choruses. "Why do we keep on digging up bones?" This is a simpler sound for Esser, which from the start seems to lack something special. By the second chorus the sound has built slightly for more layering of sounds and we start to take interest. But unfortunately this is as far as it goes. By the second half of the song it has become repetitive and indeed about as interesting as digging up bones...

The middle section of the album is probably the best section on offer. 'Satisfied' has a piano intro that immediately commands attention that springs into a bouncing clapping rhythm. Each listening of this song uncovers something new. "She's never satisfied, however hard I try",  the song itself is a rather pessimistic look at women and relationships, making us wonder what he's had to deal with at twenty-three? "You know a man can never win, even if you buy her all the shoes". The track draws to a close in a similar style to the opening, a statement making track that shows what he has to offer is different.

Latest single release 'Work It Out' is an electro frenzy like an old skool computer game, a much more modern sound in stark contrast to previous track 'Satisfied'. It further demonstrates that Esser is the king of repetition, but it works better on this track. With some speedy piano playing (and is that a dog barking?) we find this track quite endearing. 'I Love You' mixes things up a bit for an alternative emotional expression of feelings. "I love you, but I don't know how to tell you that", we can genuinely feel what he is saying here is how he truly feels. It is like an expression of self-talk. It is not romantic, but it is honest and teen-angst ridden. There are a couple of occasions where lyrics seem to fail Esser such as "Love can be dangerous like a fire in your kitchen", but he can be forgiven on this occasion, and perhaps it is quirky lyrics like this that will gain him some attention and recognition.

The final three tracks of the album seem to lose their way slightly. After an attention grabbing first half it feels like the album has suddenly lost that edge and by the end we have almost forgotten why we loved the first few tracks.  The tone has become more melancholic and the tracks do not stand out. With lyrics like "I read it in the papers, there's monkeys on the move", these certain random tendencies that Esser has developed would work better on tracks not entitled 'Real Life'!

We can't help but feel that after all of the hard work that has clearly gone into making such a varied and interesting debut album that it should have been able to leave a little more of a lasting impression. Perhaps this is just down to the ordering of tracks, as when played again from the start we are reminded of why we paid attention to Esser in the first place. For his ability to seemingly add that extra ingredient that others fear to add.

Esser is certainly ready for the world, but the question is, is the world ready for Esser? Only time will tell...