Review: Land Of Echo - Almost Music (Wah Wah 45s)

It's always worth repeating,
in the Land Of Echo, 'Almost Music' is coming out this week,  'Almost Music' is coming out this week,  'Almost Music' is coming out this week,  'Almost Music' is coming out this week,  'Almost Music' is coming out this week.

This is Land Of Echo's debut album but when you're told it is the 'return of the' Rob Mac, he of Jumbonics, Gum Drop, Speeka, Matt Smooth & The Easy Rockers on many labels including Tru-Thoughts, Altered Vibes, Sonar Kollektiv and Wah Wah 45s.

 

So a like bit of a home coming on the label with a 9 new tracks of "altered disco, downtempo soul and experimental electonics aided by the synths and violins of Lucy Wilkins, having herself played with Massive Attack, Radiohead and Roxy Music.

The centrepiece track 'Freedom In Our Rhythm Parts 1 + 2' is Massive Attack-eques a go-go so that's a winner on its own!

The vocals are provided another returnee from a career break, Sheffield's Kathy Diamond (Morgan Geist, Hercules & The Love Affair, Soul Clap and many more) and Tokyo born/London based Ayana Homma (Tokyo Riddem Band & Sound Anthropology).  And whilst we're at it, Angus 'yes i'm related' Mac in on bass and if you can't dance to the opening track, 'What We Want' with the groovy bassline, disco synths and string and sing-a-long vocals; there's no hope for you.

There's definitely some hang-over from the 'Hi-Falutin' Gum Drop album, which is a good thing and you can bet that they're already lining up outside Wah Wah 45s North London HQ for the remix options (Kay Suzuki on a dub? A Kelley Polar 'symphonic-disco' rewerk? etc) but that's a no-go for now as there's some real highlights here like 'Lean Into Your Own Breath', 'Never To Never' (I'll forgive the "bah, bahs"), 'Don't Talk (Just Dance)' and 'I Want'.

So the Land of Echo is on repeat in the office - don't miss this one.

BUY LINK: Almost Music | Land Of Echo

Artist:Land Of Echo

Title:  Almost Music

Release date: 15th August, 2025

Label : Wah Wah 45s

Catalog Number : WAHLP034

Format: Vinyl /Digital / Bandcamp