Cheri Percy's 33⅓ Series Book Examines ESG's 1983 Album 'Come Away with ESG'

Cheri Percy's new book analyzes ESG's 1983 album 'Come Away with ESG' as part of Bloomsbury Academic's 33⅓ series. The band, formed by sisters Renee, Valerie and Marie Scroggins in New York's South Bronx, created minimalist funk that emerged from the punk scene. Their music influenced later artists including the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy. Despite their impact, ESG faced challenges including bad contracts, uncleared samples, and label closures that delayed their next release until 1992. Producer Ed Bahlman of 99 Records initially supported the band but later held their masters for years after his label collapsed. Percy's research documents the 1980s indie label environment but some critics find the book lacks the band's direct perspective. The album was released when the Scroggins sisters were teenagers, capturing their youthful energy before industry struggles. The book is published by Bloomsbury Academic and priced at £9.99 in softcover.