大象传媒

Esben & The Witch have been included in the longlist for the Sound of 2011.

The atmospheric indie rock of the Brighton based Indie Band has advanced into the consciousness of the music press over the course of 2010 like a descending fog of critical approval. The band were formed in 2008, when guitarist Thomas Fisher persuaded Daniel Copeman to share the tracks he had been working on with a live audience, with Rachel Davies filling the vocalist vacancy which completed the trio.

The group took their name from a Danish fairytale and cite influences as varied as Bjork, Portishead and Francis Bacon. The band are signed to Matador Records, the label's first UK signing in 6 years. November saw Esben shortlisted for Q Magazine's Next Big Thing award, losing out to fellow Sound Of 2011 artist Clare Maguire. There debut album, Violet Cries, is released on January 31.

Find out more about this artist on bbc.co.uk/soundof2011.