While they work on their next studio album, the San-Francisco based dream-pop/shoe-gazing specialists Echodrone have recorded a six-track covers album which takes in Louis Armstrong, Gary Numan and George Michael among others.
The title is fitting (although the identity of “Duckie” remains unknown) as the band’s hypnotic sound echoes back to a time when mix tapes were lovingly crafted and passed on to friends. From the first note of this tribute, a similar care is evident and each of these tracks come together to form a sum greater than their parts.
It kicks off with The Alan Parson’s Project’s ‘Time’ – beginning with a synthesised beat that lush guitars build around. The pace remains controlled, rising to a harmonic chorus that reminds us just how well Eugene Suh and Meredith Gibbons’ voice complement each other.
Gary Numan’s ‘Are Friends Electric’ is instantly recognisable by its bass line yet soon becomes immersed in a haze of feedback and fuzz. Christopher Cross’ ‘Sailing’ sounds as if Gribbon’s voice is the wind itself ushering us across an ocean. ‘Cry Little Sister’ by Gerard McMann (which featured on the glorious The Lost Boys soundtrack (greatest soundtrack ever! – Ed.)) follows in similar fashion. Each track builds slowly before lifting euphorically in the chorus as walls of guitars fill every aural space available.
It’s the San Francisco-based band’s take on ‘We Have All the Time in the World’ (the only non-80s track included) that stands out though. It sounds as if The Flaming Lips and The Cocteau Twins had a baby that was raised by Kevin Shields. If old Satchmo himself heard it, his beaming smile would surely break out wider than ever.
And where did ‘Praying For Time’ come from? Suh assumes lead here and the vocal sways from channel to channel like George Michael behind the wheel of his 4x4. It creates a warbling effect that is truly mesmerising.
Covers should never be karaoke recreations of songs in the style they were written in a la Cowell Creations, but a band’s own take on a piece of music they feel strongly enough about to pay homage to. To that end this album sounds like Echodrone and no one else.
