Echo Helstrom

www.echohelstrom.net

The idea of this forum is to present bands that make us go ‘Wow’.

Echo Helstrom is ‘Wow’. The are genre-less, devoid of labels, and deflect the notion that great music has limitations of any kind. Implementing a healthy dose of strings, including the uber-talented Will Amend on the bowed upright bass (also an in demand jazz player), and the alluring Allessandra on violin. Makes you wonder if this is the instrumentation they had in mind from the beginning, or just went with what works.

Ross Seligman leads this ragtag group of talent, singing and playing guitar. His subdued and deliberate voice compliments the music perfectly, neither overwhelming the other. You are acutely aware on first listen to the efforts made to envelop a mood and dynamic in each song, blending both the art and commercialism of every tune.

David Caldwell plays his able electric guitar and the deft drumming is by Randy Rollofson. Despite the flowery capabilities of this group, they never stray from a commercial and mainstream audience, which is also part of their genius. Just because they CAN break off into a brilliant and rockingly eclectic version of Mozart, doesn’t mean they should or have to.

They released a self-titled LP in 2003, and are still promoting their sophomore effort from 2006, ‘The Veil’. Smart again not to try and continually release new material, allowing the superior quality of what they already have to make its way across the country at its own pace.

Every piece emotes, rife with beauty and conflict, equally. The modern angst-ridden pop sensibility combined with a more classical undertone is what pushes their multi-generational appeal. The songwriting is strong and straight-forward, not trying to do too much without keeping anything away from the listener.

Do not forget to watch their brilliantly inventive music video for their song, ‘Hungry Ghost’.