The Return of Echobelly
The powerful EP’ Bellyache’, on indie label Pandemonium announced Echobelly to the world in 1993. Quickly picked up by Epic Records, debut LP Everyone’s Got One in 1994 and the follow up, On in 1985 were both Top Ten LPs. With hook-laden singles ‘I Can’t Imagine The World Without Me’ in 1994, plus Top of The Pops favourites ‘Great Things’ and King of The Kerb’ from 1995, the band were firmly established as Britpop heroes and household names in indie-rock.
Sonya Madan (vocals), born in Delhi, India, before moving to England at the age of two and Glenn Johansson, born in Sweden are the bands songwriters: architects of the bands distinctive sound.
Melodic, inventive and with a harder edge than many of their Britpop counterparts: Echobelly were equally at home with anthemic indie bangers or brooding dream pop; as evidenced on ‘Dark Therapy’.
1997’s Lustra LP was held up due to line-up changes and the health difficulties of Sonya Madan, but yielded fine tunes including ‘The World Is Flat’ and ‘Here Comes The Big Rush’. Despite a turbulent career; including death, drugs, theft and high court injunctions, the band continued to deliver musically. 2001’s People are Expensive and 2004’s Gravity Pulls - both re-issued in 2021 - were full of distinctive, upbeat, spiky melodies. Thanks to Sonya’s unique vocals, effortless charisma and Glenn’s powerful, exquisite guitar work, Echobelly remain an incredible band live. In 2015, their sell-out gig at the 1,500 capacity Scala in London was a triumph. The shows continued and 2017’s Anarchy and Alchemy LP mixed the rocking-out shoegaze of the title track with the heart-breaking beauty of ‘Faces In The Mirror’.
Echobelly signed to Stone Rolla Records in early 2023 and will enter RAK studios in October this year to record a collection of new songs that are among their best work to date. It begins another chapter in the career of one of the UK’s most exciting, unique and talented bands.