EMA (Erika M. Anderson) has been at the dynamic core of Western grrrl power
since PJ Harvey's Rid of Me inspired a generation of female fronted punk
outfits. Harvey’s model for pop songs with punk influences altered the way
artists look and assess personal performance. Without Rid of Me,
Cobain's sound wouldn’t be as raw, Love's artistry would be baseless, and EMA
wouldn't be as appreciated sonically as she currently dominates the noise rock
/ pop ambience of releases. EMA shares the same "ugly" sound as
Harvey's 93 classic, though EMA's influences spread far deeper and wider than a
punk record of English heritage. But it's Rid of Me which unconsciously
set the foundations for EMA's previous artist (though in a more melodic
sense) Gowns.
"Satellites" explores the noise dynamics of industrial and archetypical
vocal performances. It sounds like the product of a Nine Inch Nails
collaboration featuring John Cale and Scott Walker as producer /
conductor. The opening bass drones are other-worldly, something Walker would be
proud to call his own - and EMA's vocals react to this seemingly claustrophobic,
but actually spacious recording. The string work is again carried out by
collaborator and back bench member Leif
Shackelford, who really steps in to his own when playing with EMA.
This is the birthplace of noise rock / pop's
future. EMA's dystopian creation really takes the alternative norm for a ride
on "Satellites". It's a powerful return with atmospheric
strings and gritty basic hand clap percussion, smashing together to produce
something more than just a typical EMA track. If this is anything to go by, The
Future's Void will be even more conceptual than her previous
album Past Life Martyred Saints – exciting times for the EMA consortium - something both Harvey and Albini woud be proud of.
~Eddie Gibson
