Fans of Scottish alternative music (and there’s a lot of it) will be eager to hear this debut EP from Holy Esque. On the opening track “Prophet of Privilege,” the guitars form a firm base for the rough-hewn vocals of singer Pay Hynes. With the subtle production, it seems perhaps at odds that the volume needs to be up high to best appreciate the band’s sound, but that is the case here. “Loneliest Loneliness” is a good example, as the discordant guitars do their thing behind the expressive vocals — the listener can almost conjure up images of their native Scotland’s famous mountains covered in mist, and the biting cold that must somehow have informed most of Scotland’s music over the decades.

The atmosphere gets warmer with “Rose,” as the band comes together to produce a solid piece of music that will impress even the most fickle listener. This warmth continues for the brilliantly-titled “Ladybird Love,” on which the commanding, distinctive vocals take a high point in the mix. This is an EP that will whet the appetite for the band’s further releases, and is highly recommended.

(self-released, no address provided)