Up-and-coming Echobelly to open for Tears for Fears

RATING: * * * *

by David Gaskey

Although they're not a well-known band yet, Echobelly continues to thrust itself into the depths of modern rock music. Headed by singer Sonya Aurora Madan, the two-year-old band strives to develop their sound and style from that of their debut album, Everyone's Got One . This is perhaps what makes On so notable. The band appears "a hundred times more accomplished and twice as confident."

The new release blends modern '90s rock with elements of pop heard only in early '80s high school movie theme songs. The result is a driving poppish, post-punk sound that is proving successful. This quality can also be seen in some of the songs produced by fellow Brit Morrissey and The Smiths.

To date, the UK band has released two singles from On , "Great Things" and "King of the Kerb," which can currently be heard on local radio stations. The 12-track album (produced by those who also work with Hole and Radiohead) contains more notable works, including "Natural Animal," "Car Fic- tion," (a wonderful "take-a-long-drive-with-the-top-down" song) and "Dark Therapy" (a lyrical and musical masterpiece that stands out from the other tracks).

However, one cannot label these as the sole worthy tracks on the album. Their mastery provides something desirable in all of the songs, a certain "fauvism" that proves to be fun and enjoyable.

Echobelly addresses as many different topics as they have influences. The band's name originated from "being hungry for something." Their work conveys themes ranging from rebellion and the very '90s notion of living for the moment to relating the story of a hypnotherapy session that goes wrong and becomes an LSD experience in "Dark Therapy."

Other themes include low-life society and the destruction of social taboos. However, Echobelly's interest in many social issues is not a trait exclusive to the new album. Since their first EP, Bellyache , the band has addressed topics from abort- ion to discrimination to the dormant potential for evil inherent in all of humanity.

The band has begun to captivate the British audience and continues to push itself into the American mainsteam. As the young Echobelly continues to grow, develop their own sound and define themselves, they will enjoy success paved by future releases as notable as On . As demonstrated through On , Echobelly has truly proven to be "Some- thing Hot in a Cold Country."

Echobelly will open for the Dallas-based Toadies and UK pop/rock stars Tears For Fears tonight at the "Yule Tide Christmas Bash" at the Summit, sponsored by FM 107.5 the Buzz. Tickets are on sale for $12.50.

This item appeared in the Arts & Entertainment section of the December 1, 1995 issue.

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