The Echo Chamber

The Echo Chamber is a band of few words. In both their stage presence and their sound, they apparently prefer to let the music do the talking for them. But with as much sheer talent as this trio brings to the table, no words are needed. Very few modern bands can get away with being strictly instrumental, and although The Echo Chamber has flirted with vocals in the past, (notably provided by artist/photographer/composer Greth Ligon, Mickey Kenny of Wasteland Hop, and Molly Obert, formerly of Hot Magic) the music alone is more than enough to evoke a gamut of emotion, raise one’s heart rate, and cause an outbreak of goosebumps. If you’re lucky to catch an Echo Chamber show featuring one of their guest vocalists, it’s always an added treat, but lyrics are not necessary to carry it down to the depths, up to the peaks, and back around again. I always have the hardest time describing The Echo Chamber to folks who haven’t heard them before. Melodic Hard Rock is the best I can come up with. It’s like listening to a film score, I often close my eyes when they’re playing and “see” the music, but watching musicians in full mastery of their instruments is a treat unto itself. Bassist Brian Weikel isn’t content to stand in the back and quietly contribute, often time he sets the entire mood of the song, as illustrated in the intro to “The Wolf, The Eagle, and The Serpent”. If Weikel provides the theatrics, Ryan Gaudie’s guitar brings an almost painful beauty to the music. He truly has mastered his craft and plays it not as an instrument, but as an extension of himself. Drummer Chris Thompson keeps them all in check, on track, and in time, while simultaneously injecting samples and sound bites making The Echo Chamber’s sound distinct and delightfully indescribable. I’ve been following The Echo Chamber for a while now, and in my opinion they are one of the well hidden gems of the Fort Collins music scene. But I’m not the only one who’s taken notice. The Echo Chamber’s debut album Vikings From The Future is racking up rave reviews, including a 5-star review from Molly McCowan of The Scene, they played a packed-out show at the Surfside 7 at FoCoMX, and they were just announced as an official Spokesbuzz band for the upcoming year. Although the buzz is swirling right now, The Echo Chamber is not a “new” band, they have paid their dues, put in the time and effort, and it’s high time they receive the attention they deserve. Catch them on Friday June 8th at Road 34 with Wasteland Hop before they leave on tour. - Echo by Phia Lotus

by Tim Wenger

Fort Collins trio, the Echo Chamber, take local epic rock to new heights with their new EP, Vikings From The Future. The disc starts out with the soothing instrumental track “Ramparts” during which I found it impossible not to drift away into deep thought. The entire disc is full of melodic, but also very spacious, sounds with slow and steady beats and minimal vocals.

The presence of electronica and prog rock define their unique sound, which at times reminded me of Angels & Airwaves, and at other times Pink Floyd.

Keep on the lookout for these guys, as their appealing sound is sure to draw hoards of new fans with each live performance.

Online: theechochamberband.com - Colorado Music Buzz

If I had a black leather jet pack complete with whiskey dispenser, metal studs and an electric guitar, Vikings from the Future would play from its speakers. Vikings is a little bit of everything in the rock vein, with a fair share of nuance – think Led Zeppelin mixed with Tool, then throw in a Beat poet for kicks. The freshman release from this Fort Collins prog rock quartet isn’t forging new territory by blending electronic programming and rock, but they do it expertly. The delay, distortion and programming they choose to use only aid them in creating searing riffs and emotionally varied tonalities. “Ramparts” is the award-winning, fist-pumping song on Vikings, showcasing driving lines of echoed bass and guitar riffs that build into a “Hell, yes!” frenzy, but the other tracks aren’t far behind.

–Molly McCowan - Scene Magazine - Entertainment for the Northern Front Range

With a heavy emphasis on the rock side of post-rock, Fort Collins’ The Echo Chamber deliver a hefty sound on their debut EP Vikings From The Future.

The group’s ability to shift from electronic sounding styles to organic music is nearly flawless, and the power of the music is much larger than should be expected from a trio.

4 out of 5 stars - The Marquee Mag - Denver Based

Ryan creates music just under the name, Gaudie. Listen below. If you dig good `ole fashion chillin` music, "Spoken Without Words" is the ticket, the arm-chair drink, the comfy pillow. Something akin to if aliens played rock music this is what it would sound like. Electronic rock n` roll with heavy beats soaring guitar solos, multi layered textures and percussive breakdowns that comes up on the side of The Futuristic. Wholly original and a pure delight to kick back an enjoy without prejudice letting the nocturnal groove wash through the headphone delight. A varied cast of cool overdubs, warm synthesizer tones, sharp guitar runs, deep bomb-studded beats and dub-inflected ambience.

Think Crystal Method , The Orb, Pink Floyd, The Chemical Brothers, Aphex Twin and Joe Satriani (w/o all the crazed noodled solo!) all wrapped up in a really clear song structure and, of course, melodies and hooks, which is pretty hard for so many instrumental-driven artists to pull off(including some of the ones just mentioned). To further the engimatic display on "Spoken Without Words", lead off track, "Race To The Red Light" will remind you of classic early New Order(circa 1983/84) with a bit of a Cure-groove.

For anyone who remember IRS Records instrumental projects in the late 80`s under the No Speak name, will find that Gaudie would have fit on that roster perfectly.

Gaudie is made up of one man playing all the instruments in various bedroom studios but listen below....the production is top notch and this is definitely an album to throw on late at night with headphones. Midi was not used what so ever on this album, giving an organic feel. Just tons of cheap instruments, lots of improv, soul and caffeine.

- Bruce Brodeen at Not Lame Records

If members of GARY NUMAN'S TUBEWAY ARMY, THE CARS (Greg Hawkes) , TANGERINE DREAM, KRAFTWERK, and THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS, got together to form a new wave band of instrumental sythn-pop and guitar soundscapes, it might sound like GAUDIE. This is brilliant instrumental music mixing elements of pop, prog, ambient, new wave and exotic sounds! The amazing thing is that GAUDIE pulls off creating a successful instrumental release that holds the listeners attention and brings a smile to the face repeatedly.
Grade A

- Jeremy Morris