AND EVERY BLOSSOM

Echolyn's four-song EP represents the band at their most lighthearted and cheerful, and no song shows this more than the exciting and childlike "Bright Sides," appropriately introduced by a child. Acoustic guitar, piano and strings flutter around each other as an excited Brett Kull sings the whimsical words. "Ballet for a Marsh" eases into a slightly more somber direction, but keeps a sense of wonder with fretless bass, autoharp, and moody, reserved singing from Ray Weston. I love the percussion, especially the shaker. A more fanciful interlude breaks up the song and gives it variety. Taking the jazziness of the second song much further, "Lunch in the Sun" expresses a hazy happiness- the perfect lazy day. Kull's airy rasp is the ideal voice for such a piece, and the brass excursion is just the right touch. The final tune, "Blue and Sand," features Weston singing so sweetly over light acoustic guitar and piano. The lyrics are immediately poetic, offering reflections on nature and the rich beauty of the earth. As EPs go, it doesn't get much better than this for me. The entire work is a cornucopia of satiating imagery, good feelings, and simple, lovely music. "This is a happy" thing.