Little Brother Eli - EP Review by Michelle Nevill

Little Brother Eli are all about the blues, and a whole lot more.  There is many an influence to be heard here and I find Little Brother Eli both refreshing and invigorating. Instantly I am drawn in like a moth to a flame. 

This EP meets us with 3 very different tracks that showcase this band brilliantly. The musicality that LBE display I find to be quite original. I can’t think of another band out there that sound quite like this. The first thing that strikes me about Little Brother Eli is their ability to tell a story. The lyrics in each track do just this and combined with the incredibly soulful, powerful vocals and musicianship LBE cannot go wrong.

‘Animal Fair’ the first track, is the song that got my attention with this band, but since hearing the EP it is actually my least favourite song.  In my book, that sets the standard pretty high as it’s a great upbeat track with some fantastic musical punctuation, it’s something that LBE seem to feature heavily through their songs, as well as some delightful accents and tones that are always at just the right time.

The song that I really dig on this EP, ‘Awkward Positions’ saunters along with a sassy attitude that gently grabs you round the neck and pulls you closer. The guitar on this track is hauntingly seductive as it caresses you. Again the musical punctuation used here is so effective. For example, I love when the guitar stops and the drum beat plays as the lyrics continue “that’s all she thinks about, dressing up and dressing down, I heard she’s good on her knees...” as the vocals almost come to a subtle growl…. Delicious. 

I gotta say though that Little Brother Eli have most definitely saved the best until last. ‘When She Sings’ is such a wonderful song that instantly makes you smile and the sun shine. I like the way the guitar notes are bent with a slightly dirty tone as the song swings into a gorgeous change of tempo. It is an uplifting song and definitely my song of the summer.

There seems to be no end to the talent of Little Brother Eli. I think that there is something incredibly special about these guys, I am just gutted that this EP is only 3 songs long. I am looking forward to hearing what LBE can cook up on a full length scale as I am sure it will be mesmerising. Until then, I will be headin’ to The Blues Kitchen in Camden to see what they have to offer live on the 9th July, I think you should do the same…. See ya down the front!!!

www.littlebrothereli.com