Lord Echo – Harmonies (Soundway)

0

Mike Fabulous’ new album Harmonies – his third under the Lord Echo moniker and part of a 15 year trilogy (Melodies, Curiosities, Harmonies) since signing to esteemed London label Soundway – has been a true labour of love.  And it shows. 

For the last 3 years the former Mr Mike Fabulous aka Michael August (guitarist extraordinaire for The Black Seeds and regular collaborator with Fly My Pretties) has been holed up in the top floor of a nasty industrial plastic factory in the equally nasty Gracefield industrial site out in the back blocks of Lower Hutt.

The great thing about working with bands like Fly My Pretties is that Mike has gathered some pretty good friends.  So, this album has some very stylish contributions including lavish layers of horns from Fat Freddy’s Drop trumpeter Toby Laing; some delicious smoky vocals from Electric Wire Hustle vocalist Mara TK; righteous sax from Lucien Johnson; contributions from NZ/ Ghanaian composer Leila Adu and heady soul vocals from the one and only Lisa Tomlins.

Putting your finger on exactly what this music is can be an exercise in futility but what I do know is that he’s made a record that references a whole host of musical styles without descending into some sort of pastiche tribute project.  He’s managed to come up with his own hybrid of the music he’s loved for years- disco, Afrobeat, cool jazz, early House, Rocksteady – and blend it all into this earthy urban funk fusion.  It’s deep, warm and moreish.

This is one album I received on digital format and immediately felt let down by.  I want to hear it on vinyl! Only then will the sweet 70’s dub-chug of Whoa! There’s No Limit, the opening track, feel properly aired.  Mara TK and Lucien Johnson tag team between the spaces in the beats to create this deep, smoky groove over the top of an even deeper bass.  The line from an old Brooklyn Funk Essentials song (The Revolution Was Cancelled Because Of Rain) refers to being “packed in between booming speakers”.  This is exactly how we should be when listening to super funky cuts like C90 Eternal (a bit of a nod to the old mixtape traditions) or the Afro-jive of Makossa No.3.  This one takes me way back to my early discovery of Manu Dibango and Fela Kuti.

Lisa Tomplins brings the soul on I Love Music.  It’s a fairly straightforward single verse number but it works a treat.  Fans of UK Acid Jazz legends Brand New Heavies will feel right at home with this one.  We also get a glimpse of Ardijah style Poly-Funk on the very upbeat Low To The Street, a tune that could’ve easily been ripped right out of a neon glow 80’s compilation.  A pleasant surprise is the slow burner In Your Life, which channels a mix of Marvin Gaye, Isley Brothers and plethora of modern grooves but all stitched together in perfect minimalism and led by an ethereal vocal performance by Mara TK.  With some funky keyboards on the fade out it proves it’s a keeper.

If you want to drown in pure dub – Lee Perry style – then dive into Note From Home.  Again, Mara TK leads, with Johnson on the horns, dubbed and reverbed subtly and finished with some cool, tweety piccolos to top it off.

Of all the Echo albums, Harmones is the most satisfying to date.  It’s a collection of great tunes.  When I saw these played on the WOMAD stage earlier in the year, the songs felt sloppy and unfinished but I was so wrong. That was not what I heard here.  This album is a great collection, well worth the years in hibernation.  A product of dedication to detail and Groove.

Tim Gruar

The 13th Floor
Latest posts by The 13th Floor (see all)