Echoset CD Review

Mile Marker Four

By David Elliott

Austin-based Echoset swim in an intense, swirling pool of melody, dark atmosphere, and sensuous vocals on the four song demo of their current release Mile Marker Four. Sure, the band can be classified under the ubiquitous "alternative/modern rock" signet, and that's no disservice. In fact, Echoset is a fine example of the label, as opposed to most of the typical bands that crap out the genre.

The opening song, "Pinwheel," a pulsating number drawing on U2-ish guitar harmonics, courtesy of Beth Puorro and Travis Cohee, with lead vocals by Puorro, sets the tone for the entire disk. Puorro retains a vocal style reminiscent of PJ Harvey, without that singer's histrionics, while Cohee offers up nice harmony vocals, as evidenced on "Maurice." While the band is indeed immersed in dark shadows, they do rock, as on the slightly punkish "Learning Curve," wherein the dark tone is delivered via the lyrics. Puorro opens the song conjuring up an image of sexual violence, while at the same time singing the praises of old age ("He spits and grabs my hand as I pass by him/ The wisdom of his years goes passing through my veins/ And though I fear this man, I need his elder brains."). The disk closes with the slightly funky "Shade," where Cohee's wah-wah guitar joins bassist Rae Goldring and drummer Mike Hayden in the rhythym.

In the end the whole "alternative/modern rock" category has pretty much become a mish-mash of whine, angst, and "let's play goth" goofiness (can't you just hear Avril Lavigne crying "you mean I'm not 'goth'?!?"). But every now and then a band attempts to cut through the boredom of the genre. Echoset seems to be just one of those bands.