Echo Street ( Cd Media Book )

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

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.

This criminally underrated UK band’s last album, the two disc sci-fi epic The Octopus, was an eye opening contribution to the modern progressive genre. It seemed to come out of nowhere and converted me to the band’s short but impressive catalogue. It also turned out to be the best album of 2011. The bad news is that Echo Street is not on the same level but Amplifier needed to come back down to Earth anyways; I mean, how does one top a galaxy spanning effort like The Octopus? The good news is that the band shows us a new (but still familiar) side rather than recycle sounds from Octopus, Insider or their self-titled debut. In place of their usual rock-heavy space-prog approach is a more grounded effort that recalls the softer side of Steven Wilson’s solo efforts and Porcupine Tree. And just like every other Amplifier release, Echo Street gets better with every listen.Best Track: “Extra Vehicular” because the longer an Amplifier song is, the better.

I reserve 5 stars for those rare monumental achievements like Dark Side of the Moon, and to me this is not one of those. However, this CD has everything I could ask for in a rock release. Excellent vocals, strong musicianship, and great songwriting are all present. But what always gets my attention is contrast...a mixture of intensities from low-level vocals and guitar only to thrilling high-intensity powerful finales. I'm thankful that this showed up on my recommendations list.

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'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'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.

As the title says, I was drawn to this album by, as usual, hearing a track on BBC Six Music (The Wheel); so I was going out on a limb not knowing what the rest of the album might sound like to me. I have to say I was - and am - really pleasantly surprised. For me, every track is a winner - something I think is difficult to attribute to many albums.The Wikipedia entry says the band has overtones of Pink Floyd, Soundgarden, Black Sabbath, Tool and Oceansize. Maybe. But for me this album at least has influences from the likes of Yes and Led Zepplin. As another reviewer said, the album grows on you the more you listen.On a more general note, this is a review of the CD (unfortunately not the Deluxe version!). After much comparison of MP3 and CD quality, I just prefer the latter. And it might not be a vinyl album cover, but at least you have the disk cover: its imagery and information.

Well, how do you follow the mighty Octopus - the eight legged one was my album of 2011 by some margin....?Echo Street is how. The Octopus has grown up - opener Matmos available in various locations online as an album preview is a great opener and really sets the scene for a great collection of tracks. Not as immediate, hard rocking or dark as its predesessor, Echo Sreet's a grower and has been spinning uninterupted in the car stereo since it arrived.Like all good progressive bands Amplifier have moved on and I love them for it. Whether its the influence of new guitarist Steve Durose (ex Oceansize) only time will tell but theres a lightness of touch to procedings that melds well with the riffing and feedback typical of the classic Amplifier sound.An amalgam of albums 1-3 with a little added optomism, Echo street is 100% progressive and 100% Amplifier - its a great album.

I worried that Amplifier were in danger of doing a Radiohead , ie disappearing up their own backsides.Their debut album is one of the most astounding debut`s I have heard , and really should have made them massive had not the world been obsessed with pseudo indie and/or xfactor rubbish.The octopus was a good album, but perhaps a little too self obsessed.Gone were the hooks of the debut , replaced with great technical playing....but technical demonstrations without the hooks leave me cold.This is a different direction , and whilst those who loved the likes of Octopus may find it too mellow, to my mind its a band maturing.Yes, superb themes, but all together a slightly quieter more dare I say progressive album.Fans of Porcupine Tree, Pineapple thief will appreciate it, as will anyone with a passing interest in bands like Radiohead and Muse.

Progressive Rock is something we British do very well, even if most of the population don't appreciate it. This was one of those CDs that I just had to buy after hearing a track on Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone and it hasn't been off the CD player for the last two weeks. Amplifier are also a superb live band, catch them if you can on the 2013 tour promoting this album. The comparison with Porcupine Tree is very obvious and I fear this may be wearing thin for the band, but I mean it as the highest compliment. They certainly have their own very distinctive sound and a slightly heavier edge. This is probably going to be my album of 2013.

Bought The Octopus on release and was highly impressed and only caught up with this recently. Even more impressed, arguably more commercial but the songs are great. More about what they choose to play than showing off chops, shall be moving on to the rest of their catalogue.