Echobelly - People Are Expensive (CD)

Excellent 4th album from British alternative band

By Yoshua  Feb 23, 2004

Pros: Soaring vocals and textured ambient sound, fused with pure melodic musicianship

Cons: Not a pop confection, though plenty of accessible melodies

This album represents the fourth release from the British band known as Echobelly. Any long time fan can tell you that their sound has morphed and evolved over their almost decade long career. In its present incarnation it is a melding of the pure cr...ystalline force of Sonya Madan's vocals with skilled and expressive instrumentation polished with a modern production. The sound is guitar-heavy and at times the heavily distorted growling timbre of the backing instrumentation acts as a counterpoint to the purity of the vocals. Songs such as 'Kali Yuga' and 'Tell Me Why' are excellent examples of this duality. On other tracks, such as 'Dying' and 'Ondine' a gentler atmospheric vibe flows into a subtle meditative groove. This album is both highly expressive and accessible, definitely recommended for both long-term fans and new listeners alike. Read more Less