Music
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The Echo Hunters
Cabin Fever
By Eric Thom
Montréal’s Echo Hunters have created the perfect cure for cabin fever with a deliciously varied collection of 12 tracks revisiting the strengths of early America, Crosby, Stills & Nash and the groundbreaking Harmonium of years gone by, revamping the formula to give birth to something altogether fresh. Key ingredients in their sound include strong lead vocals from Gordon Fleming, Larry Cassini, Kirk Fontaine, multiple acoustic guitars (Fleming, Cassini, Fontaine) and jaw-dropping harmonies. The delicate application of flute, mandolin, piano, fiddle and percussion add a progressive edge to an age-old blend that, when coupled with exceptional songwriting, results in a novel approach that eclipses their ’03 release and everything in its shadow. The lead-off track, “Walking Home,” combines the strong lead vocals, taut harmonies and wall of acoustic guitars that first gave wings to the seductive sound of ’70s California yet advances the substantial groove through progressive elements that add the haunting quality first pioneered by Cano and Harmonium. Fiddle and harmonica help set the stage for the reflective “Crumbling Into Rust,” while “We Are We,” a song in two parts, creates a dream sequence you’d rather not wake from. Their upbeat rejuvenation of Penny Lang’s “Ain’t Life Sweet” is a sturdy musical highlight, while “Take Me In” would render CS&N hopelessly jealous and “Second Chance” offers a muscular jam reminiscent of “Cinnamon Girl”-era Neil. Yet, despite these reference points, Cabin Fever is exciting in that the Echo Hunters have created something altogether original.
- By Eric Thom ,Exclaim!
“Like the best southern barbecue, the best music often benefits from long, slow cooking....But follow up (20 Years) it has at last, with Cabin Fever, a collection of masterful folk-country-blues originals...its shows have become the stuff of legend. Cabin Fever has already scored major rave reviews and lots of airplay on roots music and college radio.” -- Greg Quill, Toronto Star
- The Toronto Star
“Airy folk-rock harmonies and sombre lyrical themes mark the Montreal band's Cabin Fever, a new disc that just might spark the next (first?) Buffalo Springfield revival” -- Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail
- Globe and Mail
“It took these crazy folk-rockers two decades to come up with their debut recording so let's be thankful that the Echo Hunters took only 4 years to produce a follow-up. Their brand-new disc, Cabin Fever, proves the wait worthwhile...” -- Bernie Perusse, Montreal Gazette
- The Montreal Gazette
“Dark, edgy songs about alienation and looming environmental disaster ...Even good old reliable love's gone south ...Then the sun breaks through as the band launches into a tune like the terrific, harmony-rich, seven-minute cover of Penny Lang's Ain't Life Sweet and, for a while anyway, all is good.” -- Patrick Langston, Ottawa Citizen
- Ottawa citizen
On the Little Feat list: nominations at Strawberry Fest May 2005: Best Group Vocals : Del McCoury Band, Eddie From Ohio, King Wilkie, Nashville Bluegrass Band and Penny Lang and the Echo Hunters
On their participation at the Neil Young Heart of Gold premiere:
Please pass on my thanks to The Echo Hunters I am sure that Neil would have appreciated it ...they were very well received by the audience"
James Loftus, am public relations, Toronto, February
"In Quebec, I was backed by the Echo Hunters, a great little band from Montreal" Jim Condie (UK)
"The Echo Hunters were a big hit and many people were saying they were the band of the festival."
Louis Robitaille, AD of the Lunenberg Folk Harbour Festival, Aug. 2005
"The Echo Hunters were marvellous! I danced to their groove?Dean Verger, Rasputin"
"They drive the music with percussion/drums, bass guitar, three acoustic guitars including 12-string, mandolin and harmonica. Topping it all, defining the sound with an exotic touch, sings an electric violin,..mostly on the powerful lower strings, below the voices, exploiting Eastern scales, lending a world-music touch to what has been described as California Country. Like everyone else, all I can say after their stunningly virtuosic set is, wow! Stephen Pederson, the Halifax Herald
"It¡¯s been been a long time coming (headline re: first CD 20 Years) three decade musical career so far for the members of the roots-music group, which has spent most of that time charming Montreal festival-goers and club regulars with tight harmonies and live acoustic sounds...dripping with Byrds-like vocal arrangements and acoustic soul" Bernie Perusse, The Montreal Gazette
"This debut release...is defined by has the patina of "60's folk-rock, but done in an effortless, easy way, that's not a bad thing" *** Chicago Sun-Times
"The Echo Hunters stands out among the crop of new acts playing at the festival (NXNE)" Andrew Horan, SceneandHeard.ca Toronto
"an intense rock and blues set. From quiet, slow songs to a barrage of upbeat melodies, The Echo Hunters were a real crowd pleaser. All those in attendance would agree that if you weren't there and missed out on The Echo Hunters you missed out on a lot." David Humble, Lennoxville Link
"I had the chance to play the same stage as the Echo Hunters one evening and it was my own good fortune. These guys are really melodic and have a pile of great original and singable tunes backed by some serious musicianship. They should not be missed." Terry Tufts, winner, Songs From the Heart, OCFF
"Excellent musicians and singers. Their interplay is impeccable. " Roch Parisien, CBC Galaxie Radio
"Taut harmonies and steady grooves ?these guys sound great." Rob Lutes, winner at
"Really enjoy where they come from musically. Very strong writing and great vocals" Holger Peterson , Sat. Night Blues, CBC radio
"It rocks, it cradles, it drives, it hypnotizes, it caresses, it soars, it affirms everything that you guys do best, and packs all those years of sweat, gigging and beers into a really beautiful package. Congratulations!" Norman Narwrocki, DaZoque, Bakunin¡¯s Bum
"With 20 years in the pocket (EH)...have built a fan base in regional folk/rock circles with good original songs and fine harmonies to back them up...the production is understated, the arrangements are ambitious...Throughout there¡¯s alot of colour and contrast" Dean Cottrill, HOUR (Montreal)
"Great harmonies, great songs, not to be missed? Penny Lang
"I¡¯ve gotten great reviews for The Echo Hunters! Thanks for putting me on to them!?
Frank Opolko, producer - CBC RADIO Montreal
"Gordie is...a beautiful singer..." Jane McGarrigle
"Harmonies comparable to Crosby, Stills and Nash" The Gleaner, Huntingdon
"I¡¯ve been listening and liking what I hear¡± Colin Linden
"Beautiful harmonies...and they also gave back to the community: right after the show, they went over and played a few tunes for the local youth group"Sonny Ochs
For info: www.echohunters.com or tel: 514-844-7393 info@famgroup.ca
- Multiples
Discography
Cabin Fever (2007-Shewolf/Outside)
Charting across the country!
20 Years (2003-SheWolf)
The Echo Hunters got some radio play for All I Want to Do, The Burden and Lay Down Your Arms.
Photos
Bio
The Echo Hunters' music is at once familiar, yet new, with favourite influences from the last few decades blended into a contemporary roots/rock feel: there's a taste of country, blues and folk in the pop mix. From their life-long friendship comes a love of jamming and exploring, as well as beautiful blended harmonies. Their tuneful material is
enhanced by a driving beat and savvy arrangements. The band has released 2 critically acclaimed CD’s, 2007’s *Cabin Fever*, the follow-up to their 2003 debut album "Twenty Years", and features the collective writing and performing team of longtime friends Larry Cassini, Gordon Fleming, Kirk Fontaine, and percussionist Rob Couture, along with Sylvain Dancausse on violin, blues bass
player Carl Rufh, and Alan Springer on resonator guitar. They have played festivals from Yosemite, California to Vancouver Island, BC to Lunenberg, NS, and clubs and showcases throughout North America (NXNE, Folk Alliance, etc.), along the way have opened for and backed up rootsman *Jim Condie*, folk/blues darling *Penny Lang*, Yukon alt-country sweetheart *Kim Beggs*, and *Chris Jagger’s Atcha!* a UK Zydo-funk outfit. Both their live show and the CD have been getting rave reviews, and the disc has been charting across the country on college radio.
“Like the best southern barbecue, the best music often benefits from long, slow cooking...Cabin Fever is a collection of masterful folk-country-blues originals..."its shows have become the stuff of legend. Cabin Fever has already scored major rave reviews and airplay on roots and college radio.” *Toronto Star *
Their songs – such as the haunting Walking Home- are dark reflections on life, love and the world in which we live. Bloody Big World is a comment
on the environmental chaos surrounding us; Going Down a sombre and deeply personal ballad. Chester is about a larger-than-life character who lived near one of their favourite fishing spots: Second Chance is “a muscular jam eerily reminiscent of Cinnamon-Girl era Neil Young”
“Key ingredients in their sound include strong lead vocals, multiple acoustic guitars and jaw-dropping harmonies. The delicate application of flute, mandolin, piano, fiddle and percussion add a progressive edge to an age- old blend that, when coupled with exceptional songwriting, results in a novel approach” “Theirs is a quintessentially Canadian sound, distilled into an unforgettable evening’s entertainment” “.. taut harmonies and a wall of acoustic guitars that first gave wings to the seductive sound of ‘70s California yet advances the substantial groove through progressive elements that add the haunting quality first pioneered by Cano and Harmonium” *Eric Thom, Exclaim.*
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