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In a time where the world is flooded with mediocre prog albums,
there are few artists who dare to experiment with new sounds and
directions, in order to expand themselves as musicians. Enter Echo
US….
Echo Us is the project of Ethan Matthews, co-founder and keyboard
player of Greyhaven. This band already proved to be a band that
added something to the musical spectrum, rather than regurgitate
what already has been done. When Greyhaven went on hold, Matthews
embarked on his own musical journey.
Echo Us is the title-less album and document of this journey. It is
music that is very hard to describe or label. It is electronic,
touching partly an album like Erik Norlander’s Seas of Orion, but it
is also a bit poppy at times. It may sound strange, but moments I
was remembered of the 80s synth-pop formation Frankie Goes to
Hollywood. Maybe because Matthews voice is slightly similar to Holly
Johnson’s (FGTH’s lead singer), but also musically the similarity is
there. Listen to ‘Dreaming’ and you’ll hear it. Well, certainly not
another copy/clone of GenesisJ.
The album touches various genres and I find it a very daring album.
Although you would not really call it progressive rock, it is a very
progressive album, as Matthews takes the listener to new directions
and places in music and it is definitely stimulating music.
As Matthews played all instruments, don’t expect to hear a live
guitar or live drums. It is an entirely electronically recorded
album, but this enables him to create sounds these original
instruments can’t create. The atmosphere on the album is mainly
dark, but here and there is a pint of light, such as in ‘Who Loves
You’, which features former Greyhaven bass player Kai Kurasawa. This
song has a lighter mood.
Still, Echo Us is an unusual project and album and it may take you a
while to get into it. I still have to get used to it, and I have
played it quite a bit already. Fortunately on the website are
several mp3 samples, so you can listen to those first, to get an
impression of the music. Fans of electronic music can consider Echo
Us a blind purchase. All others: be adventurous and try something
totally different and highly original: listen to Echo Us… |
