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Debut Reviews Take note that quite a few of the reviews here are translated, both using web translation combined with manual translation. Echo Us / Echo Us Have you ever heard an electro album made by musicians that love progressive rockmusic and reggae? Well, i have. This is the studio album of the American band Echo Us. Echo Us is the project of Ethan Matthews of the progressive rockband Greyhaven. The music is spherical, hypnotising and sometimes ethereal. The music is electronic but could easily be more categorised as progressive and slightly psychedelic fusion than as synthpop. At times you will hear a guitar, but the sounds are mostly originating from synthesizers. The vocals remind of vocalists from the 80’s but in a couple of tracks also of an original reggae singer. The tracks are tasteful and cleverly arranged. This is a highlight for lovers of varied genres like jazz, fusion, intelligent electro, idm and krautrock who don’t prefer songs, but instead composed arrangements with a pop feel. This band could easily make film music. An odd record. Weird, but delicious -TekNoir-
Gothic Beauty Magazine
(www.gothicbeauty.com) ”This surprisingly stunning release from Echo Us starts with a wall of the most incredible siren screams I've heard in a long time. While electronic in nature, this album is NOT synthpop. It is a mournful, empowering masterpiece. My jaw dropped about 10 stories. This band should be doing movie scores, the kinds that win awards and burn themselves into the hearts of their listeners. Who would enjoy this album? Anyone who listens to it. This album is available now through their website - www.echous.net Ethan Matthews has created something truly memorable that is worth listening to over and over again.” (Poseidon) Echo Us / Echo Us ( Explicitly Intense Magazine )
There is something ephemeral about Ethan Matthews, the sole wonder behind Echo Us; it’s hard to even define his musical ingenuity. Listening to this nine tracker brings images of vast oceans in a totally isolated galaxy, which is being innocently dragged into the darkness of another dimension. Also, Ethan’s eclectic singing, heavily influenced by the prog rock bands of the eighties adds even more aroma to the trance-lie scent produced on memorable psychedelic rockers: “Directed Study” and “Who Loves You”. Besides these two numbers, this album is a work of talent and creativity of the highest order. Don’t let this pass you by. Sarjoo Devani.
Echo Us / Echo Us ( Regen Magazine: www.regenmag.com ) There is a burgeoning group of bands and artists who seem dedicated to breaking down the barriers between differing genres to create something that stands alone, not necessarily as a new genre unto itself, but rather to create music that is at least worth listening to. They employ a variety of techniques of production and songwriting, using a wide range of influences and styles so as not to sound contrived or derivative, coming across closer to progressive music. Of course, they don't sound like Yes, King Crimson, or any of the other so-called progressive rock bands of the '70s, but by definition, progressive music is meant to “progress,” to change, to advance. Today, with the growing use of electronic music and production, it's not unusual to see a multitude of bands blending the spirit of those '70s bands with the modern age of synthesizers; Echo Us sound like just such a band. Echo Us presents a musical mélange of gothic atmospheric textures, electronic production, and melodic hooks not unlike those heard in pop songs. The brainchild of Ethan Matthews, the music on this self-titled debut gives the listener a plethora of styles and motifs, all coming together to make this cohesive electro-pop sound similar to that of Everpresent. Perhaps this comparison is too easy since Kai Kurosawa (a one-time collaborator of Everpresent) also makes an appearance on this album, but it is still apt. Both bands present songs that contain enough pop appeal to get stuck in your head, but enough musicality and production to make scholars give it serious study. From the shifting tempos, gothic organs, and electro-arpeggio atmospheres of the epic “Her Heart's Army / White Wednesday” to the sad ballad-esque vocals of “Dreaming,” and even to the blistering rhythms and twinkling synthesizers of “Directed Study,” Echo Us give the listener some memorable moments of musical bliss. “Who Loves You” has a Latin Salsa flavor to it, but without sacrificing the overall flow or atmosphere of the rest of the songs; therein lies the album's primary strength, to present a wide array of sounds and styles, but to maintain consistency and coherency. There is little that can be said against the music of Echo Us. While the songs do lean toward the darker, sadder side of lyrical subject matter, they are still sung and performed with enough emotion and melody to make the listener want to hear what is being sung. The combination of programmed beats and synthesizers with some truly ethereal guitar work makes for a psychedelic effect that can induce dreamlike states, occasional bouts of red-tinted rage (such as those on “I Radiate I”), and even inspire some romantic interludes (“To Save You” is a perfect song for this). The music of Echo Us projects those emotions so well; yet again it all forms a single coherent work from beginning to end. Bravo to Ethan Matthews for creating such a well-rounded album. If Matthews can stay true to the progressive spirit of his music and keep things interesting, then may future releases from Echo Us prove just as rewarding, if not more so.
Echo Us / Echo Us ( www.synthpop.net )
This is the debut album for Ethan Matthew's project Echo Us, which is actually the second incarnation of the project, as previously Echo Us was a four member band, with Ethan being one of the founding members. The project at that time was much more synthpop oriented, but now has changed with the passage of time and the maturing of Ethan’s songwriting capabilities to form something more abstract. The songs don't necessarily hold to the pop format, at times seeming unfocused. However, that's not the case, they aren't unfocused really, but more explorative in nature. The progressive rock influences of the project prior to Echo Us, Greyhaven, come to the forefront in the more explorative tracks. The songs that do have a pop element to them, such as "Directed Study" and "Who Loves You", are outstanding. They convey a clear, emotionally charged message. At times the message is that of hopelessness, and sometimes its powerful sadness (did I mention the album is pretty dark?), but on each track that has vocals the lyrical message is powerfully conveyed. This album is not at all your conventional ultra-catchy synthpop hook-fest, but it's a very good album. Very much worth your time and money! 4 1/2 stars Funprox (www.funprox.com)http://www.funprox.com/reviews/review.asp?show=1291
artist: ECHO US Where to start a review of an album
that describes a genre of its own? That gives a new experimental impulse
to electro as well as progressive rock? Well, let me start with saying
that I might not be the right person to review this album, as progrock
is not my field. But then again, that does not tell you a lot about
this album, so let's just start by describing the man behind the project. After the dissolving of Progressive Metal band
GREYHAVEN, Ethan Matthews was not content to sit around and do nothing
so here we have his newest endeavor in the form of ECHO US, a journey
that follows a different path than GREYHAVEN had in 2000. This is an
entirely new animal and about the only thing that remained from the
older days is the progressive edge. Thought invoking lyrics are given
life through varied compositions rooted in ambient soundscapes often
reminding me of the kind of atmosphere or aura, if you will, created
by New Age or Nature CDs. Thatīs not to say this is a complete ambient
album though, far from it, as there is guitar used but the synth and
other programmed kind of sounds are utilized to create a lot of the
atmosphere and emotion. Sometimes the music is soothing like on the
second part of the fourth track, 'Her Heartīs Army / White Wednesday'
while other times it takes an industrial-like turn heard on tracks such
as the disturbing 'Directed Study' or 'I Radiate I'. Ethanīs vocals
sometimes remind me of Bono from U2, they are very 80s sounding in that
aspect. Actually the sound of this is very 80s in the popular music
sense. Thereīs lots of catchy melodies here. If you want something thatīs
a change from the norm in your listening habits then check out ECHO
US. Recommended listening: 'I Radiate I'. Artist: Echo Us The Review: Here we have another one-man band, this one is based in the electronica side of progressive rock. The band is called Echo Us, and from the website the man behind it, Ethan Matthews, was in a band called Greyhaven. They seem to be on a hiatus or dissolved. I haven’t heard them so I won’t comment on the differences between the two bands. The music on Echo Us’ debut is as the aforementioned based in electronica with nods to symphonic progressive music and ambient. The music flows almost like a soundtrack with it’s cinematic qualities to the songwritting. The mood is dark and dreamy throughout the album with brooding vocals. From the several listens, I found that Echo Us does musically what the latest Chroma Key should have done, by making the songs jump out at you not put you to sleep. This is one of those releases that takes several listens to sink in but when it does, you have yourself a keeper. It’s one of the 2004 releases that needs to be heard by more people. Take a chance, you won't regret it! Reviewed by Ron Fuchs (www.Prognaut.com) on February 8th, 2005 Written by Koldo Barroso – Intuitive Music:
www.intuitivemusic.com In his debut album, songs like “Dreaming” and “To Save You” will give you an accurate picture of the curious mix of influences from 80’s Synth Pop and Progressive Rock to Ambient electronic music. If you could visualize his music you might see a club party where guests like Ultravox, Twelfth Night, Depeche Mode, Saga, and A-ha are hanging around together in the same room. The result of this particular combination features a pretty curious production. The arrangements and sound of the album bring back the spirit of any production from the early 80’s, including vocals, programming drums, guitars, and especially all of the keyboards. In “Directed Study” Ethan’s vocals recall unavoidably the wonderful singer from Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Holly Johnson, which makes me think that the 00’s are missing more vocalists of his kind. The track also shows a very nice work of programming, especially on the drum and the keyboard sequences. “Her Heart’s Army”, introduced with some church organ chords in the most progressive tradition, breaks with a furious attack of pounding EBM sequences, and making a statement of how every combination is possible in the music of Echo Us. This song is a curious electronic vocal piece with constant measure and harmony changes, from 4/4 to 5/4 to 7/4 and so on, in a revival of the most complex progressive structures. For the lovers of Progressive Rock this should be the high spot of the album and is a really well constructed piece of music. “Who Loves You” bring a pause to the vocals with a beautiful oriental melody sitting in the middle of a cold atmospheric landscape of tones, samples, and echoes. The cold picture of the track melts down with “Two Save You”, a curious latin “lambada”, which is the most commercial oriented song of the album, without loosing its personal style. “I Radiate I” is another explosive combination where Trance, Progressive, and Pop styles are melted in a peculiar way that I’m not sure of ever having heard before. Echo Us creates a continuous and singular multi-instrumental cinematic feeling backing the vocals and combining Metal Rock drums and brilliant Electronica that would please any fan of bands like Rush or Dream Theatre. “In the Fall” closes the album with another Synth Pop influenced tune with an extensive work on the keyboards sequencing. Despite all the influences of different music styles, this is an album of Pop Rock songs with a Pop structure, very tastefully produced, beautifully arranged, and intensively interpreted with a very personal voice. Echo Us has done an excellent album in a very concrete and defined style that stays all the way through. The whole production and arrangement of programmed drums, keyboards, and vocals, gives the feeling that Ethan knows exactly what he wants. I am sure that there is an army of Progressive Rock and electronic music lovers out there who would really enjoy this album. It also makes me think that in electronic music, it’s time for new musical formulas to be heard. www.intuitivemusic.com ---Reflections of the lands uncharted - for who can fathom bottom of their heart? There's a danger in this record: it just swallows you. While the "Greyhaven" album saw Ethan Matthews wallowing in the progressive rock contractions to a good effect, here it's all effects wrapped around his voice. Electronica and synthesizers rule the game in his new endeavor, and the titular "Us" takes a listener to join a misty ride from the opening wave of "My Sirens" to the equally anxious finale, "In The Autumn". The music bristles, then zips back to serenity, Matthews voice floats around, ethereal and down-to-earth at the same time. Unexpectancy may come awkward, with dance floor salvo frightening away the majestic organ slide of "Her Heart's Army" only to usher in the magical guitar solo, but fantastic "Dreaming" has so much going to it to reveal a new stratus on each spin. All of this, though, steps out before pure '80s electro-pop of "Who Loves You" with its ska underline and classicism oozing out of the "Black Thursday" Jarre-ish buzz, as they're light. And seeing the light at the end of an echo-ey tunnel makes one savor the journey.
Track Listing: My Sirens, Dreaming, Directed Study,
Her Heart’s Army / White Wednesday, Who Loves You, To Save You,
I Radiate I, Black Thursday, In The Fall. Swelling, airy textures with
sensitive male vocals and tasty, highly skilled guitar work. Hard to
pigeonhole in any subgenre or ferret out other than discreet influences.
Personal, introspective lyrics that are unafraid of their own vulnerability.
A thread of unbridled joy running through the sweet and sour. A good
listen, and probably a really good live band. http://morbidoutlook.com/music/inrotation/2005_01_inrotation.html Echo us, could be the history of a person, who went around the world on the path of self-identification and the mysteries life has. It reflects experience and resolve without letting however the unresolved facts disappear. It is a musical catharsis, which take the listener also on journeys and which sets mental impetuses. So at least I think of the first album from Ethan Matthews, which made itself with the formation Greyhaven a name and put its interest in electronic music now also into practice. Actually, I thought already from the first sounds that that is not a typical album and the confrontation with Echo Us will probably be substantial. The electronically produced sounds and Ethan's harmonious voice join themselves to a spherical synthesis of the arts, which one got to hear rarely before in such a way and of which one is still enough themselves time will tell. When hearing the nine TRACKS time and space lose themselves, so that the listener can back-lean good conscience and grant to the Fantasy free development. The mixture from mobile and driving pieces provides for the necessary balance and bringing in different elements (organ sounds, rhythmic basses, deep melodies, even Reggae Vibes) lets no boredom or habitual feeling arise. Particularly to emphasize titles are 05, 07 and 09. "Who Loves You" which by its melody, danceable and pleasant plays itself with the Reggae elements a good feeling produces. "I Radiate I", the most aggressive and loudest piece of the album that (however somehow nevertheless matching) between all the other TRACKS it incorporates itself industrial with metallic elements-and to good the latter "Black Thursday", which stresses again the slow, spherical side of the album. Echo Us separates itself from all the trend-determined sounds and generates an independent, also courageous and above all creative sound, which it is worth to listen to. Edited from Medienkonverter: www.medienkonverter.de Echo Us is a collaboration of sounds that will give you solace the moment you hear them. Ethan Matthews started the band in late 2000 after the end of his former act Greyhaven. With his latest release, Echo Us has a promising future ahead of them. Best described as modern electronic metal, Echo Us is an eclectic symphony of noise that will leave you bewildered but yearning for more to listen too. Progressive in nature with an endearing quality, the music is eccentric which gives it that unique flavor that so many of us are listening to. Highlights for me were the electronic atmospheric pressure of Directed Study and the slower approach and dark melodies of “Who Loves You”. Check them out online at www.echous.net
Echo Us: demo 2003 Ethan Matthews, the sole brains behind the creation of the ever progressive ensemble Echo Us has recorded a three tracker which just cannot be labeled. The consistent use of synthesizer, drum programming and almost rock and reggae type smooth vocals give this baby an eerie presence. Musically, it is quite atmospheric mixing in plenty of prog rock influences tied in very well with his own unique twist on this spiritual, ethereal journey of the world beyond the cerebral cortex. Sarjoo Devani- Explicitly Intense Magazine www.explicitlyintense.com Echo US Echo Us comes from the US and and behind the electrical
project hides itself the pleasant American Ethan Matthews. With this
promo it sent to us a first sampler to the shortly appearing first official
album "Echo Us". On the Maxi CD are three Songs, which consist
all together in music of 100% Synths and wind themselves into the ears,
without using the really straight-line way. Ethan describes its music
as progressive electronic pop and thus really meets the American in
the black. The Songs that CD is quite spherical and develops by various
rhythm changes interesting tensions, which pull the listener within
seconds into their spell. Against the current trend of the time, which
has its emphasis nevertheless rather in straight-line sounds and dancable
electronic sounds, Echo Us frees itself from all these present obligations
and creates its own sphere for its Songs and straight lies here among
other things also the quality of the Songs of the available CD and one
is safe, the album probably becomes bitebite bites. Echo Us kommt aus Portand und hinter dem Elektroprojekt
verbirgt sich der sympathische Amerikaner Ethan Matthews. Mit "Pre-Release
Tracks" hat er uns einen ersten Vorgeschmack auf das in Kürze
erscheinende erste offizielle Album "Echo Us" zukommen lassen.
Auf der Maxi-CD befinden sich drei Songs, die allesamt musikalisch aus
100% Synths bestehen und sich in die Ohren winden, ohne den wirklich
geradlinigen Weg zu nutzen. Ethan selbst beschreibt seine Musik als
Progressiven Elektro Pop und damit trifft der Amerikaner wirklich ins
Schwarze. Die Songs der CD sind recht sphärisch und bauen durch
diverse Rhythmenwechsel interessante Spannungsbögen auf, die den
Hörer binnen Sekunden in ihren Bann zu ziehen verstehen. Entgegen
dem aktuellen Trend der Zeit, der seinen Schwerpunkt ja doch eher in
geradlinigen Sounds und tanzbaren elektronischen Sounds hat, befreit
sich Echo Us von all diesen gegenwärtigen Zwängen und schafft
eine eigene Sphäre für seine Songs und gerade hier liegt unter
anderem auch die Qualität der Songs der vorliegenden CD. Und eines
ist sicher, das Album wird wohl ein Leckerbissen. There are only three tracks here. Three compositions
of unpopular music, created by the recent student of Berklee, whose
bright corridors led Mathews [ Ethan Matthews ] into the dark world
of Echo Us. Is unambiguous the fact that our hero did not carry out
from the walls Alma- it was experienced attachment to classical music
and other contemporaries of Tschaikovsky. In actuality the music of
Echo Us is in no way oriented to chamber perfomance, but it toys with,
is faster, than the certain narrow- elite niche. It is considerably
darker and is closer than those corridors themselves, the refuge of
colors in the hope for discharging of the stressed situation. Miracles,
honestly speaking, is opened here not so much, first whether in view
of the minimum of material, then because of the irregular unrestrained
nature of the youth of the composer. Certainly, all charms in the presence,
certain sections are superfluously overloaded with colorful programming.
However, curtseys into the recent symphonic past are extremely small
(which it seems would go only for the benefit). However, in other respects
everything is extremely exact: the melodious atmosphere is dark, the
dense trans-like washes, percolation sequences, emotional vocals - everything,
that is sufficient for study and mastery of spectral synthetics. Compact,
directive electronics. We await the full length. Echo Us Pre-release productions: 16' 58 , USA Style: 'Electronic pop prog'
Ethan Matthews, the player of keyboards of Greyhaven, which disappeared and whos debut album was release on Angular Records (see Prog-Resiste# 22). Echo Us sends a mini cd to us of three titles which redifines the progressive music (of Greyhaven) to a more 'pop-electronic' approach. Why not, after all, if it's melodic- but the electronics create environments and other instruments come in to raise the music- which is the case with Echo Us, who have proven an eminently pleasant listen. It's not purely progressive or really heavy in this cd, but is this more and more an evil? In all cases, when album comes out in complete form count on us to speak about it! www.echous.net Rubrique: Actu Echo Us Pre-Release Track Auto-Production - 16'58 - USA ‘03 Style: Electro-pop-prog Quelques nouvelles d’Ethan Matthews, le joueur de claviers de Greyhaven, groupe aujourd’hui disparu, dont l’unique album était paru chez Angular Records (voir le Prog-Résiste n° 22). Il nous envoie un mini-CD trois titres qui se veut une redéfinition de la musique progressive par le biais de la pop électronique. Pourquoi pas, après tout, si la pop est mélodique, si l’électronique crée des ambiances et si l’adjonction d’autres instruments vient relever le propos, ce qui est le cas avec ce nouveau projet, "Echo Us" qui s’est avéré éminemment agréable à écouter. Il est vrai qu’on s’éloigne de plus en plus du progressif pur et dur, dans ce canard, mais est-ce un mal? En tous cas, si l’album complet finit par sortir (ce que j’espère), comptez sur nous pour vous en parler! Echo Us (CD3)
Tracks: Added: February 6th 2004 Well it's been a while since I listened to something different and at the same time interesting regarding the electronic scene. I am not referring to the Ebm scene, besides in our age everyday more and more bands appear in the market with at least 1 club hit that will fulfill the listener's needs (hard beats, deep distorted vocals and synth melodies) and will automatically make their name popular to the clubs and the electronic society forums. Echo US is an electronic progressive pop culmination of diverse influences. In their first demo release you will find 3 songs of sensitive, chilling and relaxing electronic progressive music, ethereal solo-guitars, calm keyboard sounds creating a dream atmosphere to the whole. It is quiet interesting and progressive, the scene needs something different and I think Echo US have something to present.... I am looking forward for the first full length CD before I reach to a solid conclusion. Echo Us brings the return of Ethan Matthews known
for his work with the brilliant Greyhaven. After the split of Greyhaven,
the members ventured into different directions. Knowing Ethan’s
growing interest in electronic music, so the deviation from the epic
symphonic Greyhaven sound to a more direct more compact electronic body
music style was no real surprise. The stand-out track "Dreaming"
comes closest to the original Greyhaven sound, a chilling yet soothing
ballad with ethereal guitars, Tangerine Dream keyboards sounds, relaxing
rhythm and that characteristic guitar solo. I am not sure if this is
commercially available but any musical endeavour of (ex-)Greyhaven members
should be followed with attention. (CR)
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