| I'm guessing here that this band chose
to name itself after its favorite studio effect. The musicians all sound like seasoned
pros, especially vocalist Ivy, but they often choose to hide her full sound under a sea of
reverb. Despite their need to engineer every vocal track like an Enigma record, Echosend
makes nice pop. On heavier cuts, such as the riff-oriented "Jewel," they can
recall rock bands like Australia’s Baby Animals. The ballad "Sad Days"
sounds like a forgotten Heart song with its acoustic guitars and drippy piano arpeggios.
The fluctuation between pretty ballads and almost gothic influenced heavier tracks makes
for a nice mix and complement each other surprisingly well. I’m a little confused by
the ending of this album, which cuts off rather abruptly, but I would venture to say that
these recordings are only meant as a demo.
The musicians on this EP are rock solid, though guitarist
Dan Deramos always sounds like he's playing it safe. His riffs are catchy and his solos
tasteful they could just benefit from a little bit of that old rock and roll grit to
really drive the album. The best solos always sound like they’re on the verge of
falling apart and his are quite grounded. Both the percussion and bass are virtuosic
without being too showy. Moody electronic interludes separate the tracks giving the album
the strange feeling of being a soundtrack for some lost film. I hope that live they keep
the energy of Ivy's amazing voice and loose a bit of the polished perfection they captured
in the studio.
Echosend
Web Site
Upcoming Echosend Show Dates
More
ChicagoGigs.com Reviews
Chicago
Music Discussion Board
|
