echolyn
A Little Nonsense

Echolyn are undoubtedly one of the best bands crowding the diverse American progressive scene, and in the early '90s, they were one of the few groups to vie for the favor of enthusiasts alongside the now-mythical trio of Anglagard-Anekdoten-Landberk. Authors of true masterpieces of the genre such as "Suffocating The Bloom" and "As The World," they disheartened fans when they decided to disband following the unfortunate termination of their contract by Sony (which had signed them believing, who knows, perhaps they were the new Backstreet Boys... oh, such sagacity!). This incident had a further unpleasant consequence, as Sony prevented any reissue of the band's early works (which had since sold out), making them unreachable for a large number of aficionados for a long time (I still remember the thrill I felt when I found a used copy of their first CD in a store...).

Subsequently, the band decided to reform, releasing a series of excellent works starting with the brilliant "Cowboys Poems Free" in 2000, while simultaneously trying to recover their now out-of-catalog production. First, they reissued "Suffocating The Bloom"; however, in this case, the band did not behave impeccably toward the fans: the first release indeed had a defective track but was sent anyway to those who had pre-ordered and pre-paid for the album directly from the group's website (allowing the download of the corrected track). Those who purchased the album later received a second non-defective release (in practice, the most loyal and affectionate fans were penalized...).

"A Little Nonsense Now And Then" represents the second step taken by the band in the reissue sector as it collects in a single triple box the first self-titled CD, the acoustic EP "...And Every Blossom," and the "posthumous" CD (made after the disbandment) "When The Sweet Turns Sour"; added to this are a series of gems (unreleased, live versions, and re-recorded versions) that we will analyze later. Before delving into the review details, we can already make a second reflection on the band's lack of regard for their most loyal fans. The choice to release a triple CD, at a somewhat costly price, indeed goes against those who, somehow, perhaps shelling out good money, managed to procure one or two of these CDs and now, to complete the collection, have to buy duplicates (it's okay that the versions are remastered, but still...). It gets even worse for those who already own all three CDs and therefore are either forced to give up the rarities present in the box or pay a high price for them (to be perfectly honest, it should be noted that even those who do not own any of the 3 CDs still have to fork out quite an amount all at once, so I believe that ultimately the operation more or less disappointed everyone...). Surely the publication of each album individually would have been the best option for everyone, but so be it. Analyzing the packaging, we immediately notice that the digipak box is extra-large (and therefore impossible to place alongside other CDs...) and features a somewhat bland cover. The package opens in four sections, three of which contain the CDs and one with a booklet that, I'm sorry to say, represents a further disappointment because it does not include reproductions of the original covers (I'd love to know why...).

Fortunately, moving on to the musical aspect, things decidedly improve. The first CD, as mentioned, contains the remastered version of the self-titled album, the first extraordinary showcase of the band's abilities, representing the calling card that any debuting group would love to flaunt. The characteristics that would make "Suffocating The Bloom" and "As The World" absolute masterpieces of prog are indeed already present in this album, although in a form not yet fully developed (after all, though quite mature, it is still the debut album of a young band...). Nonetheless, Echolyn's music already displays all of its future peculiarities: the dual vocal harmonies that, in certain harmonic intertwinings, cannot help but remind one of a certain "Gentle Giant" that had influenced many US bands in the '70s, the interludes of strings, piano, and acoustic guitars breaking more frenetic and electric phases, the driving rhythms, the disorienting and ingenious tempo changes, all forming a rather original mix that cleverly unites classic English symphonic progressive with American rock (the group's nationality is evident from the very first notes...).

The second disc opens with the 4 tracks that composed the EP "...And Every Blossom," 4 brief acoustic gems of great poetry and emotional impact, where excellently arranged strings and winds meld perfectly with piano and acoustic guitar, demonstrating how great progressive can be created even without instrumental virtuosity and lengthy suites: truly a display of great class. The same CD also features "When The Sweet Turns Sour," a sort of compilation released after the band's disbandment containing unreleased tracks from the "As The World" sessions, drafts of songs composed for its potential successor, a couple of live tracks, and the almost eponymous Genesis cover recorded for the Magna Carta tribute but never released as Sony no longer granted its authorization. Certainly, it's a very interesting collection, even though the effect it had at the time of its release was much more intense as it seemed to contain a sort of spiritual testament of the band in the form of unreleased tracks that showed us how much the group still had to say and how much it could have given to our favorite genre.

The third disc features so-called "gems," namely the unreleased "Edge Of Wonder," 3 tracks from "Cowboys Poems Free" in live version, and re-recorded versions of "As The World," "Suffocating The Bloom," "Carpe Diem," "Shades." If the unreleased track, though quite brief, is a good song that certainly doesn't leave one shouting about a miracle, the live tracks demonstrate, thanks to gritty and professional performances, how Echolyn is a great band even live. The new versions of 4 historic songs from their repertoire, included at the end of the work, beyond any consideration of their usefulness, are rather interesting, with a special mention for "As The World," presented in a particular but truly beautiful version (although the original remains unmatched for grit and feeling...).

To whom should this box set be recommended, to conclude? From a musical standpoint, it is really above average, so if you don't own these albums, do not hesitate to make it yours even at the cost of investing a budget above normal. However, if you already own one or more of these albums, no one can advise you... it will be only your level of passion for this great group that will guide your choice. I made mine...