Echo Ladies - ‘Lilies’ review: where demons don’t stand a chance
Echo Ladies by Albin Bogren
Shoegaze band Echo Ladies’ new album, Lilies, is a tribute to teenage freedom. Ripe with ethereal vocals by Matilda Botwid, singing lyrics written collaboratively by all three members – Botwid, Mattis Andersson and Joar Andersén, it chronicles the challenges experienced in a relationship, and how self-confidence prevails nonetheless.
Lilies cover
The band’s reminiscence of the sounds of the 1980s is introduced in the first track, “Selfcontrol”, with its fast drumbeats and synth. Much like the pop songs of the 80s, a great deal of emotion can be found in the playing of the instruments themselves, such as in the second track “Dirty Dancing’. Joar Andersén’s expressive guitar riffs aid in the storytelling of a strong but prohibited love; “we were dirty dancing when it still was allowed”.
The album progresses into a heavier feel in “Illness” and “Coming Home”, which boast louder drums and more powerful guitar. But, in “Coming Home”, the lyrics contrast this heaviness, for instance in the line “I want you to feel safe”. This perhaps represents a desire to hide emotion, protected by the more overpowering sounds of the band. It is an interesting show of vulnerability, prompting the listener to pay close attention.
“Fabrik”, the lead single of the album, makes a turnaround in attitude from the more romantic “Coming Home”, discussing the grievances of the relationship. The marching drumbeat gives a feeling of following – a reluctant trudging alongside a person who insists on leading. The lyric “it has always been on your terms” seems to confirm this. Then, in the repetition of the line “you’re wasting time, you miss the fun”, there is a realisation of freedom that comes along with a more playful synth towards the end of the song. This continues in “Getting On Me”, in which the lively synth accompanies Botwid’s vocals “I’m wasting time on stupid people”. Through staying with a partner that wastes their own time “holding back emotions and the truth”, they realise that they too waste time putting up with such behaviour and attempting to change another person.
The track “Lillies” is one that really stands out to me on the album. It has the feeling of a classic love ballad, with a call and response of yearning lyrics, “how can I stop waiting for you”, and strong guitar riffs and synth. It projects an image of pure romance, and the key changes are simply charming.
The theme of confrontation and confidence is carried through the last three tracks. “Awake” solidifies the ideas of “Coming Home”, expressing them more bluntly: “don’t be a coward”. “Strangers” and “Funeral” share similar concepts of bouncing back, for instance the lyrics “freaking out for whatever reasons, but I will be stronger one day”, and “there’s so many things I should have done, I should have said, we’ll keep marching on”.
These lines encapsulate the mood of the album; experiencing pain, and yet standing against it and fighting. Overall, there is a prominent element of fun, self-security and experimentation in both the lyricism and the way in which the instruments themselves are played. This projects a positive and resilient image of youth and the trials that come with it. As Botwid epitomises; “my demons, they don’t stand a chance”.
Echo Ladies’ Lillies is out today via Rama Lama Records + Grazehop Records.
Lillies album tracklist:
1. Fabrik
2. Selfcontrol
3. Dirty Dancing
4. Coming Home
5. Lilies
6. Getting On Me
7. Awake
8. Illness
9. Strangers
10. Funeral