More about: Melodys Echo Chamber

It’s now been over a decade since Melody Prochet made the foray into releasing solo-material of striking, and approachable psychedelic-tinged chamber pop. Melody’s Echo Chamber has since gone on to amass a modest, but impressive discography that ranges from the kaleidoscopic delight of 2012’s self-titled debut LP, to the tumultuous and opaque but enchanting sound of 2018’s Bon Voyage. That dealt with a period of personal loss, hurt and uncertainty.

Following another careful, and considered album recording process, the turbulence of their last outing has been replaced with a feeling of clarity. Emotional Eternal is a third full-length offering from Melody’s Echo Chamber, and one that demonstrates not only a surety over personal grounding, but also reveals an increased solidity to sonic groundings. 

Recorded in the outskirts of Stockholm with Reine Fiske (Dungen, The Amazing, Elephant9) and Fredrik Swahn, a lighter, more minimalist, and almost breezy tone is taken from the outset. Emotional Eternal explores ownership of emotions and acceptance of circumstance, as it glides by with Melody’s signature falsetto vocals backed by robust, boisterous bass guitar, and uplifting embellishments from enlivening key strikes and light-hearted strings. There is also an impression of self-acceptance, with tracks like 'Looking Backward' showing a comfortable self-referential contemplation with perhaps the most profound sonic lift from the tried and tested sound of previous releases, as catchy phrasing from synth stabs and loops, pop vocal melodies all entangled with Tame Impala style effervescent and angular basslines. 

There is sonic progress on show here too. By adopting an altogether more minimalist approach, there seems more room to demonstrate bolstered and impressive composition. Tracks like 'Pyramids in the Clouds' and 'Where the Water Clears the Illusion' adopt distinctive, but well informed instrumentation with sitar, flutes, and harp to propel a dynamic psychedelic, at times prog rock fluency that perceptually unfurls in a wider expanse, as opposed to smaller, claustrophobic, more chamber-psych approach.

Emotional Eternal is a warm, open-hearted and accepting experience. It’s a grounding and mindful and at times masterful, presence in the discography of a band, that to date, have felt fettered in their true potential by irrepressible, or unavoidable variables. It’s only criticism, is that clocking in at just over 30 minutes, it feels that just as gets going, we may have to face another extended wait to find out what comes next for Melody’s Echo Chamber. 

Emotional Eternal is out now.

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More about: Melodys Echo Chamber