Erotic Secrets of Pompeii

ESOP bring their weirdo art rock to the masses with a new single, featuring agitated sprechgesang vocals, push-and-pull syncopated rhythms, a wall of woozy guitars, and a piano that has definitely been drinking. Not quite post-punk, not quite indie rock, this wonky riff-orientated singalong sounds like Discipline-era King Crimson taking on Britpop by way of Captain Beefheart.

Lyrically, ‘The Hand…’ offers a dissociated confessional, employing earthy, Rabelaisian imagery in an attempt to scapegoat the shadow self.

The single is accompanied by a frenetic video, showcasing the band members in technicolour suits hand-crafted from rubber gloves.

Filmed at a secret location in Bristol, during a particularly hot day in summer 2024, the video was shot by recurring collaborator Saul Knight.

“In the season of despair / We’ll dress as wolves and hit the county fair!”