I’ve never heard EMA’s previous band, Gowns, though with as much music as I consume within a month I can’t really be sure, but after hearing Past Life Martyred Saints I might have to take a look into Gowns. On this, her solo effort, EMA (Erika M. Anderson) takes the lo-fi and combines it with the organic natural lyricism of artists like Elliott Smith and Lou Reed and does something fantastically passionate.

     The first track off the album, Gray Ships, has dreamy vocals, a raw acoustic sound smothered with synth and noisy guitars. The track is seven minutes and fourteen seconds long but it doesn’t feel like it. The folksy narrative of the track is just so inviting and openly vulnerable you can’t help but get caught up in the emotional trance the song evokes. If I had to compare it to anything The Blood Group comes to mind.
     California is the second track on the album and truly reminds me of Lou Reed’s style of vocal delivery on such songs as Walk On The Wild Side or Dire Straits’ Sultan of Swing. Its like a story told in prose made forefront by this distorted beautiful mess that’s ignorable but fits somehow and enhances the songs lyrics. Like the rest of the album your never really getting the whole picture, which is vast, until you’ve given the album a few listens, which you’ll more then likely do happily.
     None are more nightmarish then Marked and Butterfly Knife which feel like a couple of love letters to masochism, or maybe an ironic warning letter. In any case Marked seemed to be the tale of an abused woman with pre-made excuses and finally settling for punishment as the only outlet of love and acceptance. I’m sure that a song with such depth can mean anything to anyone but it paints a gloomy picture. Then you have Butterfly Knife which starts off with feedback and moans and groans worthy of inducing fear. The song is about a High School hero of the goth variety that cut their arms up and the link between them and an admirer. Is it a confession by EMA as truth or simply a narration in general? In any case its another fine example of acquired beauty in the massive wall of noise that houses the dark words of the song.

     Will everyone love Past Life Martyred Saints? That would be a resounding no. Not because it’s a bad album but there are some albums that are meant for people who can connect and not for people who want their music all shrink wrapped in bubble gum pop or shallow party music that’s busy trying to sell its music group or judge panel selection. EMA goes down dark roads and isn’t afraid to strip away what is perceived as beauty to lay some ambiance down for familiar words to sit snug for the right people to find. I honestly would say give it a listen, alone, without any bias within proximity, and you might find a little piece of you in one of these great songs. As always final judgment is yours. Enjoy.