Espers
The Weed Tree
locust 73
CD / 180 gram LP
2005-10-04

"When discussions were first taking place for a teaser album before
Espers’ next ‘proper’ studio full length, it didn’t take any of us
long to agree on the timeliness of an album of cover songs. Over the
last few years while out on the road supporting their self titled
debut, audiences were floored by renditions of traditionals like the
bittersweet Black is The Color or the intergalactic take on master
traveler Michael Hurley’s Blue Mountain. An album of covers &
traditionals was a perfect plan. Simple, no big deal.

The band had been growing over the years as new friends joined and
expanded the group’s sound. Esperhaus, the band’s creative quarters
in Philly, was seeing some change in residence. ­ Some members would
stay while others moved on to other places. Just as members were
making some important decisions, a weed in the backyard blossomed for
the first time.

Hence the name.

Selections were made: Hurley, Nico, Durutti Column,Blue Oyster Cult,
trad cuts inspired by Bert Jansch & the Famous Jug Band & a new
original called Dead King - a single dispatch from the future- would
fill out the album.

We would give the Weed Tree a soft push, nothing fancy, nothing big.
It would just be a tasting for the fans before a ‘proper’ 2006
release.

Trouble is, this is one of the finest records we've heard in ages.
Every cut is given the Espers’ magical thumb print ­: absolute confidence, hope & beauty turned in on & against tself. Par for the course with Espers.

We could call The Weed Tree yet another exemplary example of acid
folk, baroque psych or sunshine pop with a sinister edge but none of
this brings us any closer to giving meaning to an album gifted with the
arch beauty of the Weed Tree.

So, The Weed Tree is an album between the stations but, as
transitions go, this is just further proof that Espers are at the
peak of what makes music meaningful & meaning matter in music today." - Dawson Prater