Echochild- Seems We're Not Alone

On their second EP, UK gothic trio Echochild sound a lot more in control, a lot more confident, and a lot more polished. "Electric Aided Suicide" proves they haven't lost their edge, but lead singer Catherine-Louise Howe has progressed mightily as a vocalist and no longer sounds like she's forcing things or running out of breath. The attitude is still D.I.Y. death rock, but there's a lot more melody in evidence, and that carries over to the rest of the band as well. The guitars play a much larger role, providing a central hook to the moody "Lost Faith" rather than simply providing bits of power chord distortion in the background, and the drum patterns, though still programmed, sound a lot more lively and three-dimensional. Like the band's previous release, this EP is still plenty underground, but Echochild sound like real musicians here, and only seem to be getting better with time.

Visit the Echochild website at www.echo-child.co.uk for more information.