Elliott Power - On The Windrush (Video)

Elliot Power seems to have finally gotten over his publicity shyness as we can now see what the man looks like (or at least we assume that's him in the picture above) and with it comes some new music. On The Windrush is a weirdly hypnotic track with a slightly sinister edge to it. Released through Marathon Artists on November 17th the tune finds Power capturing some of the spirit of past techno masters Underworld with his near whispered lyrics fired scattergun into the depths of Dorian Lutz’s rambling repetitive electronica and beats. Then just as you think it’s all over the track jumps back in for a quick dreamier second go. 

The nearly all black and white video which was directed by Sam Pilling (The Weeknd, Drake, Two Door Cinema Club) is set in an area of industrial wasteland and features a rather odd looking chap who looks like he’s plugged himself into the electricity supply for a little too long. 

Elliott Power's debut album is due for release next year. Alongside previous tracks such as Sink / Swim (sadly now removed from Soundcloud) it seems like it could be quite an absorbing listen.

Elliot Power - On The Windrush (Video)

Elliott Power - Saw [Did]

Damn those mystery artists and their skills to cloak the internet and the mighty Google search from our prying eyes. We can’t blame them though. Take an act like the helmeted robots Daft Punk and their ability to create an incredible aura around Random Access Memories, their fourth proper LP in twenty years. It’s an album that went to number 1 in pretty much every country in the world, including the U.S, where previously their best Billboard position was number 44 with Discovery. Yet despite being hugely commercially successful and massive stars, Thomas and Guy-Manuel could walk down the street of pretty much any town or city and not be recognised. Their anonymity has not only assisted their musical career through the intrigue and enigma that its creates, but has helped protect them from the ridiculous non-private world of celebrity.

Elliott Power has a long way to go to reach the dizzy heights of Daft Punk.  If they’re on the top penthouse floor of the skyscraper he’s not even opened the ground floor lift door yet. Yet apart from revealing his name he’s done well so far in keeping everything else about him under wraps. All we have to focus on is the music. So let’s do that.

Saw [Did] might only be a B-Side (we featured the flip side here in a new waves feature), but it itches the ears with its dark funky bleepy rhythmic insistence and spliffy inner city atmosphere. With the whispered unsettling vocals and funky trip hop beats the name of Tricky is once again the obvious reference point and it’s certainly not a bad comparison point to have, Maxinquaye being (alongside Bjork’s Post, PJ Harvey’s To Bring You My Love and Radiohead’s The Bends) one of the best albums of 1995 amongst the Britpop splurge. Combine this track with Sink / Swim and this debut single is a vital purchase when it is released on 24th June, even if we don’t know anything about Mr Power.

Elliot Power - Saw [Did]

Elliott Power - New Waves

West London’s Elliott Power sounds like he’s spent his whole life listening to some of the classic late 80's - mid 90's British soul and trip hop records. The whispered menacing vocal on Sink / Swim instantly harks back to Tricky’s 1995 album Maxinquaye, whilst the brooding but bouncy rhythms recall Soul II Soul or Massive Attack. But this isn’t just full on imitation. It may take reference, but it’s still fresh and intriguing enough to warrant more than just one cursory play.

Massive Attack’s influence seems to be fertilising a rich seam of new acts in the UK at the moment. We’ve mentioned the Bristol trip-hop gods in relation to both Moko and London Grammar in recent posts and now we’re adding Elliott Power to that collection. Of course Sink / Swim might just be a one off. Maybe next Power will release a eurodisco cover version of Run to the Hills by Iron Maiden and stun us all. OK, if we were a bookmaker we’d give very high odds on that, but anything is possible…

Sink/Swim is Power’s first official track to be put up on line and we understand that he's got a debut single coming up soon on Marathon Artists (Jagwar Ma, Jamie Isaac, Childhood). Let’s keep an ear and eye on this seemingly publicity shy dude (the photo above doesn’t really give much away does it?), .

Elliott Power - Sink / Swim