In a world teeming with singer-songwriter types, Exeter-based Will Echo stands out through the quality of his crafted songs. Across the ten songs on 'Fragile', Will shows us many sides of his personality, and moves effortlessly – yet still convincingly - from joy to despair. 'Fragile' is full of keenly observed narratives and characters of all natures, spanning callous, cold-hearted lovers through wild hard-partying goodtime girls and introspective artists to objects of desire who fill him with awe. Put simply, 'Fragile' is an album full of life and humanity.
The swirling Hammond break that introduces 'The Horse You Gotta Ride' is a less than subtle reworking of The Doors' 'Light My Fire,' which is a shade clunky, but the track also has a hint of Dylan about it. Equally, with its uptempo swing and brass bursts, it sees Will come on more like an English Springsteen. Doors rip-off aside, the references and comparisons are largely subtle and stylistic rather than plagiaristic. There's an REM / country feel to 'I'll Call You From the USA'. Such comparisons are complimentary rather than suggestive of Will's songs being derivative, and any sense of familiarity stems from the 'classic' styling of the songs.
|
It may sound cliche, but there's a ring of authenticity about Echo that's appealing, and injects a certain, indefinable quality into these simple songs. The simplicity of the compositions is, without a doubt, a virtue, making for a collection of songs that are accessible and easy on the ear.
Will's abilities as a songwriter are clearly apparent, and you'd have to be deaf to deny his commercial appeal. Whether or not his music's different enough to win him a large audience remains to be seen, but regardless of Will's future career, 'Fragile' is a decent album and no mistake.
Will Echo Online
|
