Echocentrics: Echoland EP

Consider for a moment the task of releasing a Brian Eno retrospective, one that celebrates not his solo recordings, but the artists he has produced since 1974. That's around 45 albums in just under 40 years. How many discs would such a collection be? What cuts would be on it? Now, consider rap, R&B and pop producer Timbaland, who has produced at least as many albums (more likely twice as many, plus various singles/partial contributions) as Eno in less than half the time (since 1994). That describes the problem of Echoland, the new EP from Austin's Echocentrics. Echoland is not bad. It's quite badass, with psychedelic desert soul interpretations of Aaliyah's "We Need a Resolution" (featuring Tita Lima singing in Portuguese) and Timbaland and Magoo's "Party People." But at only five songs plus an instrumental of Aaliyah, this doc is not even the grizzle on a 96 oz. rib eye. Adrian Quesada, Echo's man behind the curtain, started the project as a means of breaking some creative blocks recording his Sunshadows follow up. This EP is a reminder to never waste great material, but the hope is that he returns to this well in six months or a year, to further plumb its funky depths.

★★★ 1/2 (out of 5 stars)