Echobelly - Anarchy and Alchemy Review.
Britpop band Echobellly, reformed on 31 May 2016, and immediately announced that they were recording new materiial, culminating in their latest album "Anarchy and Alchemy". It is the band's sixth album, and their first in eleven years since their acclaimed release "Gravity Pulls" in 2006. Recorded at The Church Studios in North London, with Producer Ian Grimble, Anarchy and Alchemy explores many music genres and styles including heavy rock, jazz, country and American folk music.This artistcally ambitious statement makes the album a hugely rewarding listening experience. This sublime ten-track album explores the scale of human feeling and takes the listener on a cathartic journey through many esoteric subjects. This lyrical approach by Madan reflects her development as an Artist. She has moved away from making direct statements, instead inviting the listener to interpret and run their own mini-film of what the songs evoke in them. The title Anarchy and Alchemy is part based on the universal side of human nature, both light and dark, and the conflict between the two. It also addresses the uncertainty that we face in modern life.
Powerful opening track "Hey Hey Hey" is a drum-heavy, rock track, with a nod to the ambient nineties Echobelly sound. The anthemic lyrics and experimental vocals include primal howling set against Glenn Johansson's steady rhymic hypnotic guitar riff, which fuses both vocals and instruments. Madan's experimental vocals explore the theme of the last stand of the rebel before they go down in a blaze of glory. "Firefly" tells the story of the migratory roots of Madan's ancestors, musically set against a one beat heavier tribal drum beat, with lamenting lyrics. The thrash down guitar riffs punctuate Madan's lyrics, to give this track a rockier feel and reflects Johasson's love of Led Zeppelin. "Reign On harnesses" Madan's pure innocent vocal range, reminiscent of the 90's Echobelly sound, to reflect the hopeful, optimistic tone of this track. Johansson's acoustic guitar blends perfectly with the lilting vocal tone, and shows the development and maturity of Madan's vocal range. "Flesh n Bones" is a gorgeous vocal led track, featuring a simpler drumming beat. The haunting yet melodic vocals imbue the wistful sentiment of such lines as; "When life takes it toll, Leaves you outside in the cold, So near or so far, I will go where you are".
"If the dogs don't get you, my sisters will", is an anthemic rock-driven track and is the standout track for me. It is a radio-friendly, head-nodding tune, with heavy melodic drum-beat. Madan's experimental vocals are a sharp departure from the early Echobelly sound, showcasing her darker richer vocal- tones borne of experience and maturity during Echobelly's eleven year hiatus. "Faces in the mirror", was lyrically-inspired by Madan's conversations with her father, who expressed exasperation at the state of her life. Musically, the track has a 60's feel, with a mournful acoustic guitar, reflecting Madan's lamenting soul-searching lyrics such as; "Faces in the mirror, trying to find our truth". In a break from tradition both culturally and musically, Madan chose to record this song in the frequency of 444HZ instead of the standard 440HZ format, after she read about Soffleggio frequencies; a six tone scale thought to have been used in Ancient music, and supposedly the key to the Universe. "Molotov" is a fast-paced, uptempo Rock track, with quick, sketchy vocals, reflected in choppy guitar-riffs and quick-fire drum beats, all harmonised by Madan's plaintive vocals. Autumn Angel showcases Johansson's ability to make an electric guitar sound melancholic,with quivering notes and simple guitar frettting. The solid, melodic drumming introduces Madan's dark and powerful vocals in this slow-paced brooding track. Closing track Dead Again, features a haunting melody and ambient drumming to reflect Madan's lyrical questioning thesis about life.
Echobelly are touring the Uk in November, and their next single release is "Faces in the Mirror", out on 17 November 2017. More information can be found at their website and their Facebook.