Artist EMA

Erika M. Anderson reemerged fairly quickly from the smoldering wreckage of her former band, Gowns, but quite clearly not unscathed. The first taste of her latest album, 2011's Past Life Martyred Saints, came with “The Grey Ship,” a harrowingly dark and winding path to the bottom. Dipping further into the album means being swallowed up by the droning bleakness of “California” as Anderson plainly announces bitter and troubling thoughts. The sound is a little schizophrenic, considering at any given time she could be either gargling lyrics over electronic beats or singing over a sober acoustic guitar, but it works. Songs like these leave little doubt that the live show will compel, terrify, and stick with anyone in attendance willing to dive that deep into the despair. 

Updated 02/22/2012