MOJO MAG SAMPLER: ECHOES

'Echoes' is a compilation created by the British Musical magazine Mojo. Although Mojo brings an additional cd to every edition of their monthly magazine since 2001, this one is the first one to make it to PA. This compilation is made to show how current psych-pop bands are handling the legacy of Pink Floyd, which is the cover story of the edition that carries this cd. That's also why they chose 'Echoes' as a title.

The album opens with quite a well-known band, Tame Impala, with their song 'Mind Mischief'. This shows strong influences from early Pink Floyd and directly sets the tone for most of the album. It's definitely a song that grows on you.

Next up is 'Voice of the Seven Thunders - Kommune', a guitar-oriented psych-folk instrumental. From what I hear here, this band is rightfully added to PA, it's some real good, original music. Mind the bongo-rhythm and the guitar solos here.

Then there's 'Temples - Shelter Song'. This is quite simple pop song, and not one of my favorites. It has some fun parts, but it's nothing special really.

'Django Django - Hand of Man' is something different. It sounds very small and dark and has a very dreamy, repetitive rhythm. It's not really prog either, but it's a good song for sure.

'The Limañanas - Crystal Anis' has some very sensual male and female vocals with a very mellow rhythm and thick bass sound. It doesn't quite fit with the rest of the songs, and I don't really like it either, also because the vocals are in French...

'Moon Duo - Sleepwalker' has the electric guitar screaming through the whole song and something that sounds like a sitar doing some riffs. The chorus is very nice and makes this one of the better songs. There's also great guitar solos here.

It's followed by 'Toy - The Reasons Why'. This might just be my favorite of the album. There's dreamy vocals and a chorus melody which sounds like a mellotron and appears to have a slightly odd time signature, 15/16 I think. Great song.

'Unknown Mortal Orchestra - From the Sun' has some strong sound effects and guitars, which a create a kind of Sunday morning feeling. Very psychedelic.

'Psychic Ills - Mind Daze' is a little more upbeat and has prominent organ and guitar lines. Dark vocals, like most songs here, as well as multiple guitars in the background.

Then 'Animal Collective - Wide Eyed' brings a totally different mood. Controlled by manic electric sounds effects, this sounds very clinical, but it's also completely overwhelming. Just looking at vocals and rhythm, however this sounds like typical British Invasion music. It ends in repetitive strange sounds and eventually laughter. Yes, pretty weird.

'Teeth of the Sea - A.C.R.O.N.Y.M.' has a Space-Rock sound which would also fit early Pink Floyd, Hawkwind and the Ozric Tentacles. It's only the second instrumental, while most of the songs after this are instrumental as well. From here on, it also gets proggier, if that's a word.

'Wooden Shjips - Flight' has the last vocals on the album, as well as heavy bass and a spacey sounding instrument on which I can't really put my finger. It's a pretty repetitive song, more than most others, and it has great spacey solos from that strange instrument and the electric guitar.

'Mugstar - Sunburnt Impedance Machine' is very upbeat and aggressive song with even some Heavy Metal influences. In the end sirens come in make it sound even more outrageous. This is one of my favorites for sure.

'Zombi - Shrunken Heads' is again much calmer. Zombi is in PA as Progressive Electronic artist, and you can hear why. A calm electronic rhythm opens the song, and after around three minutes, slow orchestral synthesizer sounds come in. This goes on for most of the song, until only the electronic rhythm is left and fades away.

The last song is 'Carlton Melton - Photos of Photos'. Carlton Melton is also added to PA as Progressive Electronic, although this one is slightly different. It's very slow and has practically no rhythm. A bright soundscape just goes on for over six minutes. It tends to get boring after a while.

Echoes is only legally available when it comes with the Mojo Magazine of March 2013. If you don't read Mojo, you should probably order the magazine online or download the tracks individually, which I would recommend.

Echoes is certainly a nice compilation of enjoyable songs, but not at all a masterpiece or something. Not even all songs are quite that good, as this is mostly a practical way to represent the current psych-rock scene. Still, nice to have.