Album Review: Compliments Please - Self Esteem
Image: Charlotte Patmore
Previously performing as one half of Slow Club, Rebecca Lucy Taylor has spread her wings in pursuit of a solo career under the pseudonym Self Esteem. Her debut solo album, Compliments Please, drops on 1st March 2019 and marks a significant transition from Slow Club’s bluesey, folk-indie sound to a slick and glamorous pop sound.
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The opening track, ‘Feelings,’ sets the tone with a 30-second vocal sample which encapsulates the moral and emotional challenges that a musician must confront when they reach a turning point in their career and are faced with a choice between creative compromise and pursuing their own desires. In light of this, track two jumps straight in with a bouncy beat, bittersweet lyrics and a vivid pop melody, showcasing Self Esteem’s polished production sound, courtesy of co-writer and producer Johan Karlberg.
An extremely talented vocalist and headstrong female artist, Rebecca Lucy Taylor has unleashed her whole self and poured a huge amount of raw emotion into the album. Big, powerful, dramatic songs tackle her deepest darkest thoughts and feelings; a catharsis for a lifetime of pent-up emotion.
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Each track balances on a knife-edge between tenderness and fury, creating a dichotomy between the cynical lyrics and their glossy delivery. Soulful gospel backing vocals and uplifting string riffs are juxtaposed against pounding, momentous beats, giving the entire album an empowering sense of growth, progression and determination.
Image: Charlotte Patmore
‘I’m Shy’ offers a moment’s respite from the relentless drum-beat. Beginning with simple broken guitar chords and a soft, lullaby-like vocal, the track suddenly erupts into a jarring, high-pitched chorus with a heavily warped bassline for extra gravitas. ‘Girl Crush’ incorporates vaguely oriental and tribal elements into the pop sound, perhaps a subtle hint to the erotic exoticism of a fleeting infatuation. The closing track ‘On The Edge Of Another One’ offers a stark contrast to the rest of the album, stripped back to the bare bones of a single, pitch-altered vocal line with simple chordal accompaniment.
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Personally, I preferred Slow Club’s folksier, less-refined version of the same vocals. Having said that, Compliments Please leaves no doubt in my mind that Rebecca Lucy Taylor is a powerhouse singer-songwriter and a remarkable force to be reckoned with.
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8/10
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