Echo Street Media Book

As one reviewer said, Amplifier is a criminally under-rated band. From the first time I heard Amplifier's self-titled debut album I have absolutely been in love with this band. Following up from their 2010 epic "The Octopus", Amplifier continue to push their sound higher and higher. What I love about Echo Street is that it is that the band is beginning to incorporate different genres and sounds into their sound. This is most obvious when you listen to Between Today and Yesterday, an acoustic folk-sounding piece that is filled with beautiful vocal harmonization. For me, however, the crown jewel in this album isn't so much Matmos, but Where The River Goes, again, with beautiful harmonization. Every time I play it, my ears are practically bleeding because I am compelled to play it so loud. It's so powerful and stirring that to me it has become nothing less than anthemic. Anyway, I don't want to bore anyone with details. I'd rather just let Amplfiier's do the talking for the band. I'm simply can't wait for Mystoria. Keep up the awesome work, guys! Your music helps keep me going, especially when life sucks.

I've been hard pressed to find great music over the last few years, but one of the best finds was Amplifier. Of course I had to get their newest release and was not disappointed at all! This band is a must for anyone who really appreciates music. Don't miss out on this one!

I've always liked this band a lot, but stopped just short of loving them. This record hasn't really changed that for me. Their early material had an awesome vibe to it, but sometimes suffered from a lack of sophistication and felt underdeveloped, particularly in the case of their self-titled 2004 LP. Perhaps as a reaction, Sel got way more ambitious with THE OCTOPUS (2011), which no one could possibly accuse of lacking sophistication. Now, the pendulum has swung back once more and Amplifier have made their shortest and most understated LP to date. Sel has stated that he doesn't find the "prog" label at all fitting for ECHO STREET; that it's much closer to being a simple classic rock record. I largely agree. Most of it treads the domain of late 90s/early 00s Porcupine Tree and early 70s Floyd, with just a dash of Amplifier's traditional darker space rock thrown in. Opener "Matmos" is a great example and one of the highlights. For me, the next three tracks are the weak point of the album, with each outstaying its welcome by a minute or two. "The Wheel" is a great riff on paper, but could have been fleshed out better with at least a couple twists and turns. "Extra Vehicular" and "Where the River Goes" are plain, straightforward 70s rock; if that's your thing, you might enjoy them more than I do. The second half of ECHO STREET is what keeps me coming back. "Paris in the Spring" weaves alternately through dreamy passages and more conventional verses; the riff underlying the former is mesmerizing. "Between Today and Yesterday," an acoustic number rich with melody, reminds me immediately of the bonus track "Scarecrow" from THE ASTRONAUT DISMANTLES HAL EP -- that's a good thing, if you're unfamiliar! Title track "Echo Street" is probably my personal favorite. It's six minutes of drugged-out fuzz and vague, foggy falsetto vocals, sounding something like "space shoegaze," if such a thing exists. Finally, "Mary Rose" invites the listener back to Amplifier's early days of dark space rock, sounding much closer to something from ASTRONAUT DISMANTLES than any of its preceding tracks -- it's another highlight for me. ECHO STREET is another fine entry to Amplifier's impressive catalog, and given its relatively subdued tone should be of particular interest for fans of Porcupine Tree, Anathema, and Pink Floyd. After a mixed start, the second half of the record really takes off with some of the band's best songs to date. 4.2 stars

I suppose like most I was turned on to Amplifier by their earlier harder sound. This album is equally awesome and grows on me with each listen. Poignant. Intimate. Innovative. Does anyone know the backstory?

I could listen to this disc everyday. All of the songs are epic. Great writing, great recording, vocals and harmonies that soar with the songs.

I'm warming up to this album, I've heard pieces of other albums that struck me more than any song yet. i think that what i enjoy most is the sound of the guitar sorta "underneath" it all.

All ok. Thank You!!!

This album will keep growing on you with each & every listen. So please just give it a chance, and you should not be disappointed in the end. In my opinion this is the best album by "Amplifier" to date, and "Octopus" album would be my second choice by this very underrated band. This album has strong vocals with excellent melodic music, and has slush layers throughout this album. If you are a fan of "Porcupine Tree", Steven Wilson's solo music, "Anathema" or "The Pineapple Thief"? You most likely will love this album or just a person open to a new band that plays Alternative & Progressive sounding music. This will probably be worth a chance for you to buy this Excellent album!

Toller Nachfolger von Octopus. Sie beschreiten ein paar neue interessante Wege mit diesem neuen Album, der Amplifier-Sound ist aber unverkennbar. Leider kommen sie nicht vom Status eines Geheimtipps weg, was wahrscheinlich auch an den nicht wirklich airplaytauglichen Songlängen liegt. Amplifier ist übrigens auch eine tolle Live-Band. Da sie meist in sehr kleinen Clubs spielen, sind sie im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes eine Band zum anfassen. Sie haben Spaß ihre Alben zu signieren und halten auch gern mal einen kleinen Plausch über Gott und die Welt. Eine klare Kaufempfehlung für alle, die experimentellen Alternative-Rock, mit viel Druck und ohne viel Schnickischnacki mögen.

Meraviglioso album. Richiede più di un ascolto per poter essere apprezzato ma poi diventa un viaggio ad occhi aperti. Non adatto a chi cerca ritornelloni e strutture dei pezzi semplici

Dans la lignée de Porcupine tree et Steven Wilson, ce CD se dévoile progressivement au fil de plusieurs écoutes. La finesse musicale associée à des rythmes divers font de ce groupe trop méconnu (encore) un élément prometteur du progressif.

Drawn by the free cd sampler from "Prog" issue 34, the write up contained within said magazine and the "kscope" record label (despite Sel Balamir stating that it was never meant to sound like such a record), I felt compelled to investigate this Mancunian outfit a little further. Kscope as we know has under it's umbrella some major sounds (in my opinion) such as Porcupine Tree and their founder Steven Wilson to whom I have seen (SW) and have listened to pretty much non stop since discovering them in 2012. For fear of wringing them both out dry, being accused of being obsessed and one track minded, I had to seek an alternative. Now I can happily report that my quest has been well and truly Amplified!!! From start to finish this record is stunning. Hooks, riffs, baselines that are not dissimilar to early 'Tree with the quirkyness and lyrics from the latter day SW effort of Ravens'. Seasoned with an Elbowesque voice, I believe I have found the necessary ingredients for my side menu from PT & SW. Not that I'll be fed up with them any time soon but to say that Echo Street sits very comfortably beside them.

fervente adepte des produits K SCOPE je m interesse depuis quelques annees a ces groupes qui montent : anathema, porcupine tree, mothlite, et qui prennent une dimension musicale tres differente . amplifier ne deroge pas a la regle et tant mieux pour nous !! voici le genre de CD qui s apprecie apres plusieurs ecoutes ; une musique a apprivoiser, a apprehender ,,, du post rock dans sa pure splendeur ! de bonne facture ! il me reste a ecouter leur cd precedents !