Ellypseas

Ellypseas has only been around since spring 2009, but in a city known for out-there bands, this avant-everything quintet is already pushing the envelope. Ellypseas’ particular brand of strange, as heard on June debut Indescribable Colours, is worth a double-take. Jazz-rock leanings brush shoulders with spaced-out sonics, occasional shards of brittle psychedelia, lead singer/flautist Lizzo’s soulful vocals, rhythmic playfulness and grandiose tendencies that rival any prog standard-bearer. Did we mention the flute? - HoustonPress.com

Ellypseas’ Indescribable Colours is set to release tonight at Dean’s but I was sent an advance copy. I’ve been a bit busy and it has taken me a while to get around to listening to it but I’m glad I did.

Indescribable Colours is gritty, live recordings laced together giving it a raw feeling which plays very well with the eclectic sound these guys have developed. A fusion of soul, jazz, progressive rock and experimental music, Indescribable Colours begins with a chaotic unorganized melody which gives way to a very clean pristine chiming of the guitar as Lizzo lets loose her very powerful vocals. (track 1: Ghosts) But wait, it isn’t till you reach Coffe Grinds that you can truly appreciate these guys. Mind you it is a 12 minute song which is long by any standards but never did it cease to impress me. Coffee Grinds builds up layer by layer and with each new layer adding a new calm to the mood the song has already set. I’m gonna be honest, my favorite part of this song has to be the flute solo… COME ON…. how often is it that you hear a flute solo anymore? Not since the days of Jethro Tull has a flute been jammed so thoroughly but you know what I love it I really did that with the wailing guitar just made my day.

Get out, check these guys out and if you feel so inclined to pick up the album you wont be disappointed I can see good things coming from these guys in the future. - indiehouston.org