EBB is a Scottish band consisting of five women and one man that offers Progressive Rock sounds with very intense lyrics and music. The debut album “Mad & Killing Time” was released on November 01, 2022 via Boudicca Records and contains 9 tracks of medium length, accompained by a 48-page, A5 booklet full of images and a brief back-story behind the concept of the album. The opening track “Vorspiel/ Grieg’s Diner” is an intro that immediately plunges us into the band’s sound, with woodwind textures enriching the sound. Dreamy guitar arpeggios open “The Animal Said I,” developing with the entry of other instruments and a warm, expressive vocal. The intensity increases as the song progresses, incorporating good guitar and keyboard work, with a fine instrumental section in the middle section. In the finale, the vocal returns and closes with interweaving electric guitar and keyboard. “Tension” opens with a deep bass line and organ that gives a distinct 70s feel to the sound. The rhythm section is solid and energetic, while the keyboard textures characterise the sound of the track, which is enriched with Psychedelic vocals. The tempo changes are an added value to the song, which shows a more heavy and instrumental facet of the band’s sound. An engaging and power-packed track. A mixture of Heavy sounds and Symphonic openings, “Hecate” is an ever-changing track with precise tempo changes. The vocals are aggressive and dynamic, while the music is a concentrate of power and technique, with darker passages and intertwining electric guitar and keyboards. In the second part, the intensity increases, ending in a musical crescendo. The flute opens “What Under What” a track that shows the softer side of the band, with more acoustic sounds. The vocal is melodic, while the music with a change in the second part increases in intensity, offering a section with more energetic traits. Entirely instrumental, “Violet is Tits” is a combination of prog sounds and heavy stretches, with guitar and keyboard duets. The rhythm section is solid and powerful, and the 70s influences are mixed with the band’s modern and personal traits. “Krystal at the Red Light” combines scratchy, distorted guitar parts with keyboards and deep bass lines. The vocals are enveloping, interpreting the lyrics with intensity, while the structure is enriched by tempo changes and technical, highly refined passages. In the final part percussion and horns give a jazzy touch with references to the famous track Take Five. Melancholic atmospheres permeate “Confess” with an excellent background of keyboards and guitar arpeggios. In some passages, the sound becomes heavier and darker, proposing the style of bands such as Black Widow in a modern and personal key. While in the more symphonic openings the song is softer with a fine vocal, very warm and expressive. The album ends with “Mary Jane” a softer, subdued ‘song‘ track with acoustic guitar and vocals taking centre stage. The rhythm section is linear and the song develops into a pleasant musical crescendo, leaving us wanting to listen to the album again in the future. A band that offers a Progressive Rock sound, managing to create a varied and enjoyable tracklist from start to finish. softer passages alternate with others where heavier elements are incorporated, a heavy dose of keyboards and the sound is enhanced by horns. The vocals are dynamic and expressive, interpreting both the softer and the more aggressive parts at their best. The rhythm section is solid and enriched with tempo changes, creating structures full of interesting ideas and cues. A recommended listen for all lovers of prog sounds, managing to create their own personal style, inspired by the 70s but proposed in a fresh and modern version.
Tracklist
01. Vorspiel/ Grieg’s Diner (02:49)
02. The Animal Said I (06:22)
03. Tension (06:43)
04. Hecate (06:26)
05. What Under What (05:51)
06. Violet is Tits (03:57)
07. Krystal at the Red Light (05:01)
08. Confess (05:28)
09. Mary Jane (05:15)
Lineup
Erin Bennett / Lead Vocals, Electric Guitar, Acoustic guitar, 12-Strings guitar and Trumpet
Anna Fraser / Drums, Tabla and Percussions
Bad Dog / Electric Bass, Fretless Bass
Suna Desi / Sequential and Moog Analog Synths, Backing Vocals
Nikki Francis / Hammond, Various Synths, Grand Piano, Mellotron, Flute, Alto Sax and Clarinet
Kitty Biscuits / Bingy-Bongy, Backing Vocals, Spoken Woird, Percussions, Bones and Frogs
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