Masks the perfect metaphor for Echo’s pandemic release

Groove Tube with Cian O’Connell

Echo Harte is nothing if not versatile, weaving his way through several of Galway’s musical circles.  Predominantly known as frontman of punk four-piece Vulture Casino, the Tuam multi-instrumentalist showed off his singer-songwriter side with the physical release of a debut solo album almost a year ago.

Now Echo is breathing new life into the record with an online re-release that proves his solo work remains central to his act.

Masks was released to major online streaming platforms at the end of May. The fifteen-track LP consists of songs straight from Echo’s personal catalogue, as well as several modified efforts initially composed with a former band. It’s a fair representation of the various styles across which he writes comfortably.

“The plan was originally to put it out a year after the physical release date,” Echo recalls.

“I was going to do a big tour with the band around the country and I was hoping to go over to America this summer as well. Obviously, those plans were destroyed by the pandemic. The fact that everybody was inside watching movies and listening to music, I thought ‘Why not release the album on Spotify now?’

“Gigs aren’t really going to come around for a while so in the meantime I’m putting it out there and I’m very happy with it. The title [Masks] was what we came up with a few years ago, myself and the producer, back in 2016 so it’s just pure coincidence that it relates to the current pandemic.”

Though it is billed as the work of a singer-songwriter, Masks feels very much like a band record.

The instrumentation is intricate and mixed throughout and, although a couple of the lighter songs are dominated by vocals and guitar, ferocious drums and bass add crucial depth to the project. Despite this, Echo insists they were all written in a similar fashion.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app

The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.