It’s been two years since the Morning Benders released their debut Talking Through Tin Cans, but after having iTunes name it as their top indie/alternative album of that year, it’s hardly surprising that they wanted to take their time working on it’s successor. Big Echo sees the band adopt a more mature sound and demonstrates how the quartet have grown in the time that they’ve been away. The omnipresent 1950s beach America feel from their first album remains, but seeing as these boys are from California, it’s hardly surprising that sea and surf play an integral role to their sound.
'Excuses' suitably introduces us to their dreamy, innocent approach and the included style of percussion and violins featured transports you straight back fifty years to a time when life and music was far less chaotic. Whilst their debut possessed a more poppy, upbeat and generally buoyant nature, Big Echo generally flits between this old sound and new, slower tempos supported by chilled out melodies. 'Promises' encapsulates the two styles perfectly, as a repeated, animated guitar riff injects some bounce into the track before it pauses momentarily to become more drawn out with nonchalantly drawled vocals. Their style changes as quickly as the tide, with almost every song composed at a different speed and with varying series of time signatures to the one before it. 'Wet Cement (Option A)' sees lead singer Chris Chu almost whisper the lyrics to us in a high pitch whilst superseding 'Cold War' sees vocals gallop along at a pace that causes this catchy song to feel over far too fast.
They haven’t abandoned their older sound entirely though, and a couple of tracks retain the discernible sense of pop that flowed through their first release. 'All Day Day Light' bursts with vibrancy and features a series of guitar euphonies and succession of claps that move their countenance from lazy Californian beach to the bustling heart of L.A. Meanwhile, 'Hand Me Down' takes this restlessness one step further and possesses grinding guitars and grittier vocals which have not been previously displayed by the group.
Whilst their debut more jovial sound was endearing and enjoyable to listen to, due to it’s lighthearted tone it was at times hard to take them 100% seriously as dedicated indie musicians. This record has seen them develop musically, vocally and lyrically and the impression they leave is all the better for it. Big Echo isn’t going to have a profound impact on your life, and that’s a fact. But it will easily slot into it so snuggly with it’s laid-back vibes and catchy melodies, that it will undeniably play an essential role in the soundtrack to your summer.
This review was originally posted on www.culturedeluxe.com
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