Artist: Elston Majeska

Single: The Beautiful Girl That Left Home EP

Released: 29^th July 02

Label: Star Harbour

I don�t know whether to believe the story that accompanies this copy of the bizarrely named artist�s EP. I won�t bother you with it, but it sure does make this most probably fictional character, Elston Majeska, very mysterious. Star Harbour/Shifty Disco does tend to offer us some peculiar artists and I get the feeling this will be no exception.

I�m half-right. The opening track �Piano Times� shudders and shakes with distorted vocals but with the childlike piano and steady drumming in the background hold it together. It�s more Flaming Lips than anything else, that experimental edge is present within this song. Then it all changes�almost. The second track �The List� changes directions somewhat and offers us a large chunk of 70�s psychedelic-pop. It�s fairly standard stuff, it would pass as a White Stripes B-side for example, but it�s more interesting than that. The closing song �Sending Waves To Manhattan� is a more basic affair. However, �basic� for Mr.Elston Majeska doesn�t really mean much. It has more in common with the opener �Piano Times�, the vocals are similar, but the tune is much improved. Some delicate synths and handclap effects are what I like and Elston offers them in large quantities. This song at its peak is near perfect pop, but it drags at over six-minutes long, but who�s complaining�apart from me.

Not as strange as I�ve possibly made out, but it�s unusual that�s for sure. Hints of The Flaming Lips and The Magnetic Fields at times, as well as a bit of The Doors perhaps. There are lots of instruments making an array of noises, but it�s all held together very well and doesn�t get confusing. One criticism though is that it is a bit forgettable and you get the impression that there�s something lacking. I do look forward to see where Elston Majeska goes from here with their next release, what it�ll sound like nobody knows�probably not even Elston Majeska.

8/10, Richard Collings