Supernova

Description

Supernova is an album by the American synth-pop band The Echoing Green, released on Red Hill Records in September 2000, a short-lived division of Pamplin Music. The album was recorded by Doug Geist, Eric Larson, Jerome Fontamillas, Joey Belville, Mark Linger, and Ryan Cangiolosi at Joey’s House, at Santa Fe Center Studios in New Mexico, at Black Dog Studios and The Border in Nashville, Tennessee; with band member Joey Belville and Jerome Fontamillas of Fold Zandura and Mortal fame producing. Mixed by Julian Kindred at The Sound Kitchen in Franklin, Tennessee. As on many of their albums, The Echoing Green offers a new version of an old favorite; in this case, it’s a bass-heavy version of “Defender” and a loop-laden rendition of “Thief.”

The Echoing Green have turned over a new leaf in their 8 year career offering a brand new set of guitar driven electronica music. On Supernova, the group sounds less like a machine and more like a band; similar to how fans would see them perform in concert.

This project also signifies a new life as the group makes their debut on Red Hill Records. Group founder Joey Belville is joined by vocalist Chrissy Franklin, programmer Jesse Dworak, and drummer David Adams, giving this project a Pet Shop Boys meets Duran Duran 80s styled feel.

The opening track, the disc’s title cut, starts off the album with a bang. The tune rises in volume as it goes on with guitar-based riffs, proving right from the get go the group’s evolution. The disc is also different in that it features a ballad called “Waterfall,” also an uncommon occurrence on an Echoing Green album.

More true to their past are tune’s like «Head Over Heart (Yesterday’s Taking Over)» and the album’s finale «Nightfall and Splendor». Lyrically, this disc is the group’s most mature effort as well. For instance «Nightfall and Splendor» combines simplicity and poignancy: “When the waters of my soul threaten to run dry, there your power holds – turning the tide.”

The song «Liberation» speaks of hope coming from a dark period in one’s life by completely surrendering to God’s will: “The weight of a good day gone black/ The weight of a heart under attack/ This is where I stop pretending that I’m not in need of mending – and let it go.”

Despite all of the positive changes, the group may have a hard time getting out of the starting blocks, due to their new record label that’s significantly smaller then their former home at Five Minute Walk. [Andy Argyrakis, The Phantom Tollbooth, 9/16/2000]

> iTunes

CD tracklist:

01. Supernova – 5:27
02. Yesterday’s Taking Over – 3:32
03. She’s Gone Tragic – 4:21
04. Liberation – 4:55
05. Waterfall – 5:04
06. Thief – 4:16
07. December – 4:35
08. Jubilation (This Thing Called Life) – 4:54
09. Defender – 4:15
10. Nightfall & Splendor – 5:53
Video. Yesterday’s Taking Over – 3:33
mp3-1. Aurora 2000 – 4:51
mp3-2. Supernova (Ubernova – Burn Burn Rocket Mix) – 5:20

Note: The band offered two tracks (“Supernova” and “She’s Gone Tragic”) on mp3.com before the CD was released. Released as an Enhanced CD (HDCD). The enhanced portion of the CD contains video clips, lyrics, a discography, a band bio, photos, and “xtras”. Tracks 2, 3, 6, and 9 are new recordings of older tracks.

[youtube_sc url=”zF9ZSy_CFbQ” title=”The Echoing Green – Yesterdays Taking Over” autohide=”1″ rel=”0″]