Dundee outfit Echo Machine are teasing this pair of tracks from their forthcoming album (‘Accidental Euphoria’, great title btw!), due in March 2024, and they are both full of energy and slightly retro synth-rock action.
With dramatic vocals which recall something between Andrew Eldritch and John Foxx, ‘The Stranger’ barrels along (“I don’t know who I’m trying to impress”) with squalling guitars and battering drums… is it about multiple personality disorder or just someone struggling with a popstar persona, like Bowie probably did…?
‘Last Action Hero’ is bit more electronic, in the riff at least – like a classic B-Movie track, to these ears – again the vocal pulls you in, intrigued by what is going on here – “I always dreamed I could be someone else…can you see through me, I see through you…”
Having seen this lot in action it is fair to say the producer of these tracks has captured some of the sheer drama and tension of the live act. By all accounts the album will be worth the wait.