Esh & The Isolations – Idiot Fingerz (LP)

Esh & The Isolations is a proto-punk adjacent rap band from Boston, MA. Their new LP Idiot Fingerz answers the question “What if Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, and David Bowie collaborated on an ODB record?” The album is written, produced, and arranged entirely by frontman Esh, who has cultivated a national and international fan base touring with such artists as Fake Four’s Ceschi Ramos and Dark Time Sunshine’s Onry Ozzborn. The release is a follow-up to Esh’s 2017 solo effort, Darwin’s Frankenstein.

The haphazard sonics on Idiot Fingerz are crafted in the style of the 1987 Max Headroom Incident. The LP plays like the ranting of a masked recluse on pirated airwaves, manically weaving poetic ruminations with childish buffoonery — all fed through the hiss of a broken tube amp. It explores concepts of Identity, wealth, & seclusion, over production that ranges from kinetic synth-punk (“Lou Says,” “Don’t Freak Out!!!,” and “Every Rhyme”) to grime-ball boom-bap and trap (“Costanza Wallet” & “Shoot 2 Kill”). Esh’s lyrics are razor-sharp, and shift from heartfelt (“I Am Nothing”) to scathingly sardonic (“Rich Parents”) to light and humorous (“Chef Kiss”) fluidly.

Esh & the Isolations provide a voice not typically heard in hip hop. They are free from ridged convention yet steeped in indie rap tradition. Their live shows can out-punk any punk band, and Esh can out-rap any old-head purist. The band will be touring the US and EU in 2020 in support of Idiot Fingerz. Check it out on your preferred DSP. Bundle packages can be purchased at eshandtheisolations.com including limited vinyl and shirts.

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