Ellery 'Over Land Over Sea'

Since 2010, when Ellery [Tasha and Justin Golden] released its previous record, Tasha had a bout of severe depression that led the band off the road and into new work. After getting an MA in creative writing (she is currently pursuing her doctorate in public health), Tasha began running trauma-informed writing workshops for incarcerated girls: exploring how poetry and songs can break silences and amplify girls’ voices. The bravery of those young writers inspired Tasha to publish her own book of revealing poems, Once You Had Hands (Humanist Press), in 2015. The book is a result of “pushing far beyond what I thought I was allowed to write about”—a practice that altered Tasha’s songwriting, too. “The songs ’Tennessee Whiskey’ and ‘Sleep Well’ definitely wouldn’t exist without Once You Had Hands,” she notes.

Ellery return on July 21st with their first project in seven years, Over Land, Over Sea. Produced and mixed by Justin, and recorded at Louisville’s La La Land studio, the five-song outing is a layered, lush dose of thoughtful indie-pop that begins with “Sleep Well Goodnight” an instantly catchy and deceptively charming song that hints of revenge. That's followed by the bluesy foot stomper, “Tennessee Whiskey (Hallelujah)” which recounts sordid family histories, and the ethereal "I'm Done Waiting," where Tasha's vocals float over a gorgeous piano and violin. The Goldens round things out with the retro-flavored, hopeful title track and the emotionally resolute "Do Your Worst." A short, yet stirring set, Over Land Over Sea will have the listener riding emotional waves. - and it's a voyage worth taking.

---