The Echocentrics Sunshadows on 2LP
The Echocentrics is a new band from Austin-based two-time Grammy nominated producer Adrian Quesada, a member of Grupo Fantasma, and one of the minds behind bands Ocote Soul Sounds and Brownout. Teaming up with Argentinean singer Natalia Clavier and Brazil-based Tita Lima, he has carved out the southern-fried, laid back, and psychedelic-tinged album entitled Sunshadows.
Quesada plays an interesting cross-cultural game of musical ping pong mixing multiple languages (songs are sung in a mix of English, Portuguese and Spanish) and influences from the likes of Tim Maia and Rita Lee, Serge Gainsbourg, and David Axelrod. Buckets of spring reverb, huge doses of psyched out farfisa and electric harpsichord, and super-heavy drums back soulful vocals. Quesada recalls classic American funk and low-rider soul, but shades everything with a South American twist.
To complete his outernational vision he called upon the talents of Clavier (Frederic Aubele/Thievery Corporation vocalist) and Lima (who has appeared on the Ubiquity-released Ohmega Watts Watts Happening album and is the daughter of Liminha, bass player for Os Mutantes). It’s no surprise that Quesada picked Southern Americans as vocalists as it was a little known Peruvian band, Los Pasteles Verdes, and in particular their ballad, “Esclavo Y Amo,” that were a big inspiration for the album.
On Sunshadows, The Echocentrics weave through ballads and cinematic instrumentals building steam to reach the faster tempo Latin-funk of “Dudar” and the hybrid Afro-beat/Brazilian flavored “Mundo Pequeno.” On “Don Alejo” they deliver a spaghetti western style head-nod-inducing instrumental, while the string-laden “Crescent Sun” is cruise-ready, top-down, Austin funk.
The Echocentrics Sunshadows Track Listing:
1. Engines of Solitude
2. Jardim ft. Tita Lima
3. It's Not Too Late ft. Natalia Clavier
4. Esclavo Y Amo ft. Natalia Clavier
5. Electric Travels
6. Mundo Pequeno ft. Tita Lima
7. Suspicions
8. O Elefante ft. Tita Lima
9. Down Under ft. Natalia Clavier
10. The March
11. Don Alejo
12. Dudar ft. Natalia Clavier
13. Crescent Sun
14. The Open Veins
