Unsigned Artist of the Week:
Echofela are a band hailing from Scotland. Together since 2005 (2006 under the Echofela name) the band have accomplished numerous feats, from supporting well-known acts like The Zutons, to gigs in Turkey for crowds of three thousand. The culmination of these successes has seen the band recently release their debut single, ‘Girls Girls Ladies’, a catchy, upbeat track with a number of likeable qualities upon first inspection. The question then, is how do Echofela stand up to closer scrutiny?
Musically, Echofela fall within the Indie movement which remains dominant in the UK right now, however they are not afraid to add their own twists to what can be a formulaic genre. Among these are some nicely polished vocal harmonies and delayed guitars which could happily sit in the music of more rock tinged acts like U2, along with a tasteful guitar solo which adds depth to the track. The overall result isn’t going to win any prizes for innovation, but where Echofela follow the norm they do it well, and where they deviate they help distance themselves from their more mundane contemporaries.
As you would expect, the vocals are centre of attention on this track, and this is very much a good thing. Vocalist Barry Price has a clean and snappy delivery which works well with the excellent vocal melodies. It is amongst the better voices I have heard in this style of music and it sits very well within the band as a whole. Coupled with a catchy, rapid fire vocal pattern in the verses and well wrought contrasting lines in the chorus and pre chorus the effect is solid.
Lyrically, the track is pretty straightforward, the title ‘Girls Girls Ladies’ being a strong indicator of what to expect. The quality vocal delivery overcomes what are in places simplistic and cliché lyrics, but for a light hearted and upbeat track, especially one of this genre it unlikely that people will find lyrical weaknesses to be a big issue.
Overall ‘Girls Girls Ladies’ is a promising step; well constructed and executed, catchy and concise. It is clear that Echofela is a band with a talent for their chosen music, the greatest test in their quest for greater success will be whether they can overcome the massive overcrowding of similar sounding bands and continue to fashion a distinct sound. In this I wish them the best of luck because their music is worthy of a wider audience.
9/10
Review by Dave Barnett
