TIME SILENT RADIO II

For fairly obvious reasons, the first two paragraphs of this review are the same as for another Echolyn release, but it does change from there on, honest! In March 2025 Echolyn released (or releases, depending when you read this) two new albums on the same day, this one, and the companion album, 'Time Silent Radio vii'. This contains just two long tracks while the other contains seven shorter ones, and the band have also made available artwork which combines both releases so if one wishes to keep them listed as one double album then it is easy to do so. I first came across Echolyn many years ago when they released their third album, 'As The World' in 1995. This was their first (and last) release to a major label as they were signed to Sony for a period, but after more than 250 live shows, three full length albums and one EP the band broke up.

The band have reformed and gone on hiatus a few times since then, but the first reformation in 2000 saw founders Brett Kull, Christopher Buzby and Ray Weston get back together, this time with drummers Jordan Perlson and Paul Ramsey. There have been five albums since 2000, with slight changes in line-up, but Brett, Chris and Ray have been the constants and now they are back with their first releases since 2015's 'I Heard You Were Listening', since when there has been another line-up change with Brett Kull (guitar, lead vocals, backing vocals), Ray Weston (lead vocals, bass, backing vocals), Chris Buzby (keyboards, backing vocals) welcoming back Jordan Perlson (drums & percussion, backing vocals).

The two songs are "Time Has No Place" (16:37), which is broken into four parts, and "Water in Our Hands, Pts. 1-4" (28:51). Playing this album straight after the other one it is interesting to see the similarities and also the differences, as the pop mentalities are again prevalent (The Beatles being an obvious influence), but there is also the impression that the guys are more relaxed. There is a famous quote from Blaise Pascal (often wrongly attributed to Twain and others), "I have made this longer than usual because I have not had time to make it shorter." Here they have been able to expand on ideas which would have necessarily needed to be curtailed if they were going to reduce the length, but at the same time they have not extended songs needlessly. There are plenty of bands out there who could do with some judicious editing on some of their releases, The Flower Kings spring to mind, yet here there is a relevance and continuity which takes the listener along for the journey.

All the styles we hear on 'Time Silent Radio vii' are again present but somehow are just "more". It makes it very difficult indeed to pick a favourite of the two as they are so close yet also separate, and I can certainly understand why the band made the sensible decision to make them available as separate albums as opposed to one lengthy one. Personally, whichever of the two I am listening to is my favourite, with its combination of wonderful musicianship, vocals and melodies, so currently it is this one but at the back of my head is the niggle that I really enjoyed the other one as well. The only solution for progheads is to investigate both: you will not be disappointed.

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Posted Saturday, February 22, 2025 | Review this album | Report (Review #3155888)

"Time Has No Place": a symphonic, cinematic intro, a train station feel, a melody based on Big Big Train, the Flower Kings, and Gentle Giant, a touch jazzy. The vocals appear with Brett and Ray, a touch of XTC, fresh and varied. The lively piano for the second of the four parts, harmony, an inva ... (read more)

Report this review (#3187422) | Posted by alainPP | Sunday, May 18, 2025 | Review Permanlink

Legendary U.S. Symphonic Prog band Echolyn has emerged after a ten-year absence with not one, but two new albums, their 10th and 11th (released not as a double album, but 2 separate albums), returning with their unique rockin' prog sound, mixing classic melodic rock and power pop with sumptuous symp ... (read more)

Report this review (#3177967) | Posted by BBKron | Monday, April 14, 2025 | Review Permanlink

The Tool's of Echolyn Echolyn has been one of my favorite bands since their early days, with albums like Echolyn (1991), Suffocating the Bloom (1992), As the World (1995), and Mei (2002). They have a fascinating discography, but after Mei, and speaking objectively, the band started to lose wh ... (read more)

Report this review (#3165052) | Posted by Stoneburner | Thursday, March 20, 2025 | Review Permanlink

So close. Echolyn delivers an album consisting of only two tracks, which excites me as I enjoy when a band lets loose and dedicates itself to developing its music over a long period. However, the main issue with the album becomes apparent right away: the music doesn't develop much. I keep waiting fo ... (read more)

Report this review (#3163845) | Posted by Andis | Tuesday, March 18, 2025 | Review Permanlink

Early thoughts....subject to editing Echolyn is a band I have long struggled with. Are they really progressive? Yes, on the face of it but there is such a strong focus on songwriting that, for me, it ceases to be progressive except in a neo sense. I've always felt they were too weighty on the voc ... (read more)

Report this review (#3162578) | Posted by ZappaBowie | Friday, March 14, 2025 | Review Permanlink

Echolyn's new album pair, Time Silent Radio vii & II, is a magnificent work of art. In particular, the two epics that fill TSR II, "Time Has No Place" and "Water in Our Hands," are mind-bendingly good. The new songs feel less aggressive than 2002's Mei or 2005's The End Is Beautiful, leaning inst ... (read more)

Report this review (#3143245) | Posted by Jay_K | Saturday, January 11, 2025 | Review Permanlink

I've loved Echolyn's music for many years, but their later albums have been a bit hit and miss. I didn't really like 'I Heard you Listening' so I signed up to the Kickstarter campaign with a bit of trepidation, but I figured that, regardless of the likeability of the music, it's supporting a great ... (read more)

Report this review (#3142058) | Posted by Wisdom Moon | Wednesday, January 8, 2025 | Review Permanlink

After almost ten years, Echolyn are back with two albums released at the same time. Both are 45 minutes in length. The good... the sonics of these albums are amazing. Some of the best I've heard in years. If you dig the vocals and multi-layered harmonies of Echolyn, you will notic ... (read more)

Report this review (#3141366) | Posted by Grumpyprogfan | Monday, January 6, 2025 | Review Permanlink

People will have their own experiences. Some projects are divisive for the same reason they are magnificent. I'm happy to admit I'm an echolyn fan. There's a unique chemistry and aesthetic to these guys; they are about as prog as one could want, and yet they sound like no other prog group (unless ... (read more)

Report this review (#3140710) | Posted by toddbashee | Sunday, January 5, 2025 | Review Permanlink

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