SYLVAN ESSO — Wdid / Keep On

Sylvan Esso – WDID / KEEP ON arrives on Psychic Hotline as PSYLP66, a 12-inch vinyl that marks the duo’s return after a four-year silence. The Durham-based pair, Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn, channel their signature blend of indie pop, beats pop and bass-driven melodies into two contrasting sides that feel both urgent and exploratory. Within Psychic Hotline’s recent output, PSYLP66 follows the 2023 releases AUDIOBOOK (TAPE) (PSYCASS31) and AUDIOBOOK LP (PSYLP31) by Sam Gendel and Marcella Cytrynowicz, as well as the collaborative Darkness Darkness / No Services (PSY027LP) by Kieran Hebden and William Tyler. Those records have showcased the label’s appetite for experimental pop and genre-bending collaborations, setting a context for Sylvan Esso’s new material to sit alongside a roster that values inventive production. Side A opens with “WDID”, a complex, driving track that oscillates between a late-night, almost cinematic tension and a floor-ready pulse. Recorded in the band’s own Betty’s studio in Chapel Hill and co-produced by Jake Luppen, the song feels like a restless cascade of emotions, a manic hum that hovers between dread and kinetic release. Its structure supports a DJ’s need for a hook that can be layered into a late-set, while its melodic core retains the band’s distinctive pop sensibility. Flipping the record, “KEEP ON” emerges from a week-long improvisational session with bassist Daniel Aged and drummer TJ Maiani. The B-side offers a more fluid, wave-like atmosphere that contrasts the intensity of “WDID”. Its groove provides a spacious backdrop for mixing, allowing the rhythm to breathe while maintaining enough momentum to keep the dancefloor engaged. The track’s improvisational origins give it an organic, slightly unpredictable quality that can serve as a bridge between more structured cuts. In the context of Sylvan Esso’s catalogue, these two cuts represent a fresh moment of unhurried creation, recorded without external deadlines in the wooded surroundings of Chapel Hill. The duo’s long-standing practice of turning creative tension into songcraft is evident here, with “WDID” embodying a restless urgency and “KEEP ON” delivering a more reflective, yet still propulsive, continuation. For DJs, the record offers two distinct tools: “WDID” works as a high-energy opener or a tension-building peak, while “KEEP ON” functions as a smoother transition or a late-night mood setter. Collectors will appreciate the specially die-cut sleeve that doubles as a coloring template, adding a tactile element to the listening experience. The release is pressed as a 12-inch vinyl, matching the label’s standard format for its recent output. Its two-track structure keeps the focus tight, delivering a concise statement that highlights both the duo’s evolving songwriting and the label’s commitment to forward-thinking pop. Sylvan Esso – WDID / KEEP ON, Psychic Hotline, PSYLP66, 12-inch vinyl, 2 tracks. Tracklist: A1. Sylvan Esso – WDID B1. Sylvan Esso – KEEP ON