The danger when talking about ESG is to focus on the influence they have had, and I'm not sure how important that is - the music should stand up for itself irrespective of how many hip-hop producers have sampled the rhythms. (I mean the Pixies were a great band before Kurt Cobain co-opted their quiet chorus-loud verse song structure, and would have remained a great band even if Nirvana hadn't existed). Yet every article I can find on ESG focuses on a long list of sample credits which, I feel, doesn't give true credit to the remarkable sound they made. ESG were four sisters growing up in a New York project in the late 70's, whose Mum decided that the best way to keep them out of trouble was to buy them instruments. In time they formed a band and caused a bit of a stir in the nascent No Wave movement. After supporting A Certain Ratio the band came to the attention of Manchester's Factory Records and were dispatched to record a single with Martin Hannett..This laid down the archetypal ESG rhythmn sound. This is sparse dance music; a minimalist punk-funk that for all the subsequent sample activity still sounds quite unlike anyone else. Since then the band have released an album a decide added the occasional daughter and continue to gig sporadically. The best of their 70's and 80's music has been combined on the Soul Jazz cd A South Bronx Story and is the ideal embarkation point to discover more. TracksMy Love For YouYou Make No SenseYou're No GoodOriginally on the Martin Hannett produced debut e.p. - Come Away With Me. Bonus TrackThe Dirtbombs - My Love For You As a bonus here is the Detroit based garage rock band tackling an ESG song. (I expect the Dirtbombs may crop up here in there own right in due course).LinksVisit: Stylus Magazine Review, ESG Biog (note this is a Word doc for download), Trouser Press Biog. Buy: A South Bronx Story