Come Away with ESG

Background

Ed Bahlman discovered ESG while serving as the judge for a talent show and became the band's unofficial manager. Tony Wilson from Factory Records approached the band after a performance at Hurrah in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and three days later they began recording with Martin Hannett. The recordings helped bring Bahlman's focus to the band. He formed a partnership with Factory so that his 99 Records label could release ESG's eponymous debut EP in 1981.

ESG was a minimalist take on funk music, removing brass, saxophone, and synthesizers to leave vocals, bass, and percussion. The New York Times placed ESG second on its list of the best EPs and cassettes of 1981, and The Village Voice placed the EP third on its Pazz & Jop critics' poll.

"Moody" was released off of ESG as the band's debut single. A 12-inch remix single followed, and both versions found popularity at clubs in New York and London. Because of the single's release through Factory, many New York DJs assumed ESG was a London-based act. Paradise Garage listed the song in its top 50 all-time tracks. It became a foundational track for the emerging house music scene.

ESG released a second EP titled ESG Says Dance to the Beat of Moody in 1982. It includes "Dance" and "The Beat", which reappear on Come Away with ESG. The EP placed ninth on that year's Pazz & Jop list. As several of its post-punk contemporaries were breaking up, the band continued to keep some amount of distance from the music business.

Release and legacy

ESG recorded the rest of Come Away with ESG at Radio City Music Hall in 1983 and released the album through 99 Records later that year. The band's first performance after the release was at Danceteria. Around half of the tracks on the album are instrumentals. The songs that do include vocals focus on danceable chants. Shortly after the release of Come Away with ESG, the band became inactive for several years, in part because of the closure of 99 Records.

Decades after its release, Come Away with ESG saw a critical resurgence. It was named the 84th greatest album of the 1980s by Pitchfork Media. The album became influential for post-punk, dance, and hip hop acts. Kathleen Hanna stated that it influenced her work with Le Tigre. Royal Trux member Jennifer Herrema has also cited Come Away with ESG as an influence.

Track listing

All songs written by ESG.

1. "Come Away" – 3:15
2. "Dance" – 4:32
3. "Parking Lot Blues" – 2:53
4. "You Make No Sense" – 2:20
5. "Chistelle" – 1:54
6. "About You" – 2:05
7. "It's Alright" – 2:38
8. "Moody (Spaced Out)" – 4:18
9. "Tiny Sticks" – 3:02
10. "The Beat" – 2:17
11. "My Love for You" – 2:54