ECHO HOTEL - HANGERS ON (SINGLE REVIEW)

The Bristol based alt-rock three piece are defining and stretching the musical boundaries with their sound.  On initial listen to these guys there sound is an unusual mixture of tight knit melodies, loose danceable rhythms intertwining jazz & swing flow with a gritty rock foundation and theatrical style vocals, you will not forget these guys very quickly.  The band is made up of Jack, James and Ed who all met through a chance meeting at Exeter university Echo Hotel became a solo logic project to a fully fledged live outfit.  Refining their sound through live shows at iconic Exeter venues such as The Cavern and the Lemon Grove  , the guys wasted no time in setting up a home studio and started working on their first demo.  From these sessions the guys released 'Meta-Worry' in 2018 and their conscious and self aware approach to their lyricism and musical style grabbed the attention of Sarah Gosling of BBC Introducing.  They are definitely building a style that is made to surprise you at every corner.  

Since their first release in 2018 the guys have continued to put out music that just grabs your attention and their latest release 'Hangers On' is no different.  Dipping into the smooth rhythmic sounds of jazz and swing, a feeling of relaxation washes over you.  There is no rush with this song, they want you to be fully submerged into the rhythm and lyrics, a chilled out woozy like guitar starts the song off accompanied by a raspy saxophone that brings those deep smooth jazz tones.  The laid back groove perfectly complements Ed's theatrical almost operatic style vocals, injecting and lifting the intensity of the track as he touches on themes of isolation and escapism.  There is a calmness that intertwines its way through the erratic unpredictable instrumentation, the guys make you feel a sense of peace however not letting you get too comfortable, keeping you on the edge of your chair at the same time.  The track builds as it progresses, the instrumentation and vocals becoming more intense and emotional, dripping with a soulful ambience that makes you feel like you are swirling around in their colourful soundscape.  The drum beat is not the driving element of the track and feels as though it is playing slightly behind everything else, the swing like beat keeps the tranquility of the groove.  This track definitely shows the bands continuous development in their sound and how they are experimenting within it to create different styles, their reflective lyrics and versatile musical approach will definitely see the continued growth of this band and their fan base. 

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