Short Reviews [Checking For Echo Project - 2021 - "Life & Other Short Stories. Vol. 1"]

I am not sure I will ever get used to how small the world is these days with the advent of the internet and instant communication. When I was contacted about this album by Jon Farley, he listed a number of people who were involved and I saw the name of Michael Brown (Outside In), so I made the assumption that Mikey had passed on my details. Turned out it was Martin Haggarty from Long Earth, so I was incorrect, not for the first time. I am glad that Martin did though, as this virtual band have released an album which is an absolute delight. Jon is a multi-instrumentalist, having played in many obscure bands over the past 40 odd years, but in 2011, he was diagnosed with refractory, chronic sarcoidosis – a disease that has damaged many of his body’s organs, and especially his lungs, and mental and physical coordination. In 2014, he moved from the South of England to Moray in Scotland to escape the air pollution and set about recording music in his home studio. He collaborated with Darren Selesnow in California on a project called The Hollow Moon, releasing an album of the same name in 2019, while he released his own debut solo album, ‘The War is Never Won’, the following year. With his lung capacity now at just 50%, a follow-up album would need other singers to be involved, and hence this project was born. Suzi James of Fearful Symmetry provided guitar, strings, and e-violin, on many of the tracks, but the rest of the music is provided by Jon, and the album is quite keyboard-based. What makes this work is the quality of the songs, combined with the arrangements which always focus on the singer. I get the impression that although this is his concept, Jon sees himself more of an accompanist as opposed to putting himself out in front and he ensures that all the singers have their turn to shine in the spotlight. He has also brought in a varied mix of male and female singers, avoiding any of the usual suspects (even I have not come across all of them previously). He has also picked three covers, and the standout must be “Red Dust Shadow” from IQ’s mighty ‘Dark Matter’ album, here performed by Jon’s wife, Lisa. The arrangement and female vocal make this a very different version indeed from the one we all know and love. Another standout is opener “Stillborn”, which is as delicate as one would expect from the title, with Clare Shorthouse Fowler of Dandelion Charm providing the perfect air of grace, emotion, and sorrow. I have been fortunate enough to have seen Outside In play a few times, and dressing gown wearing Mikey is always the life and centre of attention, but here he downplays it with a measured vocal approach that is sublime. There are many highlights on this album, which is available only digitally to keep down costs, as this has been released for charity. All net proceeds of sales will be donated equally between Help Musicians hardship fund and Stagehand to help both musicians and crew recover financially from the Covid-19 crisis. It’s available for only GBP 7, so get over to Bandcamp and get your copy now.