Whoever thinks that it is easy making good sounding sampled music couldn’t be more wrong. First, you have to have a bottomless knowledge of music genres, all music genres and you have to be constantly keen on searching and finding more good sounds. Then you have to pick which sounds go together with the way to make the music sound not only unique but primarily good to the ear, and then you have to add the right beats. It has all to be in perfect harmony.
Lord Echo, the guy that comes all the way from New Zealand has achieved that harmony on his newest release aptly titled “Harmonies”. From the introductory “Whoa!” with its perfect sampling reggae rhythm and background sax, you immediately know you are in for a treat. Simply, Lord Echo has got that feel what goes well together. “Life On Earth” continues with the spiritual jazz feel combined with the vibe taking you in the direction of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”. “The Sweetest Meditation” takes you in the direction of the dance floor Seventies style (Curtis Mayfield style, to be more precise), adding a vibraphone sound that sounds like that is exactly the place where it should be. The title “Makossa No. 3” is a sure giveaway for those a bit knowledgeable about modern African music, while “Low to the Street” is the rock steady, that only misses the scratches from those old Sixties Jamaican singles.
When “Just Do You” comes in, you start wondering which Womack & Womack album this complete tune came from (none). Missing something techno style? No problem for Echo “C90 Eternal” will serve just fine with an African brass section to boot. “Note from Home” would fit perfectly into Horace Andy’s repertoire, while the closer, aptly titled, “I Love Music” more or less sums it up - Lord Echo was able to make a perfect choice of samples, beats, has composed the material to produce one of the better… what style should we put this one under?
