Hello Echo was formed initially in the late 2000s, making a splash with their unique blend of indie rock, folk, grunge, and jam band grooves. Their debut garnered praise from Pitchfork, as well as appearances on MTV, NPR, Sirius XMU, and KEXP, before the band fell off the radar in 2015. With a sound that’s evolved, but still definitely their own—Hello Echo’s return is more than a reunion—it’s a reset.
After quietly resurfacing with a batch of new tracks this year, Hello Echo returns July 1 with “Interwebs”—a slow-burning anthem for the screen-staring masses adrift in the space between memory, machine, and manufactured truth.
Hello Echo is ensuring their return resonates throughout the music world, and “Interwebs” is just the beginning of their campaign. The band’s new single beautifully depicts the modern tug-of-war between man and machine, and how, when the machines yank on the ragged, sea-worn rope that tethers one to the other, we lose all sense of community. “Interwebs” finds the band battling with the instant gratification of a life online as they attempt to find their footing in the modern music world. The band is trying to make sense of it all in the only way they know how, creating boundary-pushing rock music. “Interwebs” is a sprawling effort, with moments of soaring guitar melodies that bleed into the cinematography of the warping arrangement, giving the song’s message a stadium-sized feel. Throughout the nearly six-minute song, the band transitions from subtle experimentation to a clear understanding of the modern indie rock scene, but “Interwebs” is far from a veteran band latching on to trends in hopes of snagging a slither of your attention. Hello Echo, instead, stretches these tropes to new limits, giving them a familiar yet alien-like world to work with. Hello Echo has officially returned, and “Interwebs” is their monumental welcome home parade with heartfelt songwriting that dances with psychedelic undertones.
