Seminal New York post-punk outfit ESG have confirmed a new 2-disc ‘Best Of’ collection.
Born out of a mother’s hope to keep her daughters off the streets, ESG grew to become one of the most unique bands of the post-punk era. The Scroggins sisters picked up instruments at a young age, and began making music inspired by what they saw around them.
The result was a sometimes cacophonous mixture of punk, funk, disco and more. An evocative soundtrack to New York at the dawn of the 80s, ESG were always a cult phenomenon but went on to have an enduring influence.
Friends with the Factory Records crew, the band played the opening of the Hacienda and recorded with Martin Hannett. Allowing their unusual music to come to full fruition, ESG cut a series of incredible discs.
Releasing only a handful of material in their initial lifespan, those early cuts included potential classics such as the disco noir of ‘Moody’. Taking their name from their birthstones – Emerald, Gold and Green – it was an inevitability that ESG would reform.
A re-issue project by Soul Jazz helped increase awareness of the band, with live performances following soon after.
Now ESG have confirmed details of their first ever ‘Best Of’. Bringing together some of the finest cuts from their varied back catalogue, the new two disc collection includes material from their reformation.
Expanded to include their daughters, the new five piece version of ESG has all the minimal dub-funk of their initial blast.
Including tracks which have fallen out of print, the new collection contains sleevenotes from ‘This Is Uncool’ author Barry Mullholland. A superb introduction to ESG, the new ‘Best Of’ contains enough rarities to tempt more devoted fans.
ESG are due to release ‘Dance To The Best Of ESG’ on October 18th.
