aaamusic | On 19, Oct 2010

K’s Choice are a band that I have never listened to in spite of their good reputation and relative success and it is usually my opinion that when a band takes a hiatus that this should generally have been the end. However, this album isn’t what I was expecting. Lead single and opening track ‘Come Live The Life’ is very strong and accessible at the same time as being slightly leftfield. The vocals are emotive and are backed up by a lovely musical track that only serves to heighten the emotion integral to the track. Lyrically speaking it is flawless with the gorgeous repetition of “If your eyes are the gateway to your soul/ what’s broken will be whole again/ and what is hole is hard to shatter.”

Title track ‘Echo Mountain’ is another of the more interesting songs on the album combining a more upbeat tempo with the almost haunting quality of Betten’s vocals seamlessly. It reminds a little of Tegan & Sara but at the same time seems to lack some of the ambition that the other group possess. It is these high tempo tracks that are the most successful on the album, for example, ‘I Will Carry You’ has an excellent beat at its heart and the use of Betten’s lower vocal range makes for a good contrast in comparison to the tracks that have come before it. This lower range is also implemented on ‘If This Isn’t Right’ which uses keyboards as the main melodic tool rather than guitars which is a very noticeable change. This is a nice bouncy little number which, although forgettable, is pleasant enough for its 3 minute span.

Not all the songs on the album are as good as the lead but that is to be expected and there is a lovely blending of sounds throughout. ‘Let It Grow’ has an almost dreamlike floaty quality about it that I imagine would be a real treat live. It is songs like this and ‘Perfect’ that will draw the most comparisons to Snow Patrol, another band that have made their trade in lighters aloft, arm waving music. ‘When I Lay Beside You’ also fits into this stadium mediocrity niche but at the same time does seem to have something of a spark at the heart of it although the hand claps throughout are irritating as opposed to providing an inventive alternative to a drum beat.

The second seven tracks are even more stripped back than those came before them but at times don’t feel like part of a K’s Choice album but instead like Betten’s solo effort. ‘Say A Prayer’ is striking in the way it brings the tone down quite suddenly after ‘If This Isn’t Right’ but the delicacy of the following ‘These Are The Thoughts’ makes it one of the stand out tracks on the album. ‘Say A Prayer’ stands out solely because it is the only track which seems to have a hint of bitterness at its core.

‘These Are The Thoughts’ practically throws the aura of romanticism down your throat and as the general theme behind the entire album it does feel somewhat sickly sweet at times. There is a degree of cynicism missing throughout if the other tracks are to really pack a punch in the way that ‘Say A Prayer’ does. Tracks like ’16’ and ‘America’ do not feel like necessary inclusions on the album as not only do they say next to nothing but nor do they demonstrate the ambition of the band. ‘Killing Dragons’ on the other hand is the most inventive that the band get mixing an almost prog sound with a lovely folk undertone that complement each other well.

However, by the time I got to ‘Along For The Ride’ and ‘How Simple Can It Be’ I felt like I had heard it all before. Most of the songs seem to lack some originality, they sail on nicely and inoffensively but sometimes that isn’t enough and actually makes the album a little boring. They don’t pack any punches and can leave you wanting more at the same time as being disappointed with their conclusion. Betten’s vocals are the shining star here but they are not enough to elevate the album from solid to exceptional. There is little to fault here but at the same time there is nothing particularly inspiring either.

Author: Josie Payne