PRIMAL SCEAM-ECHO DEK.

dereksmusicblog ♦ June 9, 2011 ♦ Leave a comment

PRIMAL SCREAM-ECHO DEK.

Recently I was talking to a friend about our favorite albums, and we were going through some of the albums we liked. Having spoken about some of the more obvious choices, we went on to chat about the more obscure albums we each liked. It was then that I mentioned the album that I am going to write about today. The album was released my one of my favorite bands of the last thirty years, and they are a band who have released albums of various kinds of music. Everything from rock, dance and dub. This band are responsible for, in my opinion, one of the greatest albums of the past twenty years. They are also one of the last proper rock and roll bands, a band who have lived the rock ‘n roll lifestyle, and survived to tell the tale, or what they can remember. In this article, I will write about Primal Scream’s album Echo Dek.

Echo Dek was an album that was experimental in nature. It is a fusion of two of my favorite things. These two are Primal Scream’s music and dub reggae. The album was released by Primal Scream in October 1997, and was a dub remix of Primal Scream’s previous album Vanishing Point, which had been released in July 1997. Adrian Sherwood was responsible for most of the remixes on Echo Dek. 

Echo Dek was Primal Scream’s sixth studio album. Their first album Sonic Flower Groove was released in 1987, five years after the group were formed by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie in Glasgow in 1982. Although the band were formed in 1982, until 1984, Gillespie was the drummer with the Jesus and Mary Chain. He left when he was given the ultimatum either leave the either split Primal Scream up, or leave the Jesus and Mary Chain. It was after leaving the Jesus and Mary Chain, that Primal Scream started to became a really successful band.

When Sonic Flower Groove was released in 1987. The album only reached number sixty-two in the UK album charts. This was a good start for a debut album. However, this was not good enough for the group, and was one of the reasons for the original line-up splitting up. Jim Beattie left the band. This left only Bobby Gillespie, Andrew Innes and and Rogert “Throb” Young as orignal members of the group.

In 1989 Primal Scream released their second album entitled Primal Scream. The sound on this album was much different to Sonic Flower Groove. It had a harder sound, a much more traditional rock album. Unfortunately, the album did not sell well, leaving Primal Scream at crossroads in their career.

The follow up to Primal Scream was the seminal album Screamadelica, which was released in 1991. It saw Primal Scream make an album that was a fusion of dance and rock music. This was a huge success commercially, and reached number eight in the UK album charts. Screamadelica won the prestigious Mercury Music Award in 1992, and is seen as one of the most influential albums of all time. 

Having recorded such a musical masterpiece as Screamadelica, it was always going to be following it up. Maybe that is why it took three years until Give Out But Don’t Give Up was released in 1994. It saw them return to a mostly traditional rock ‘n roll album. The album received mixed reviews, with some people believing it drew too heavily on their musical influences, especially the Rolling Stones. Britain’s New Musical Express called Primal Scream “dance traitors.” However, if you take the time to listen to the album with an open mind, it is a great album, with some fantastic music on it. The problem with album for some critics, was that it was not the same as Screamadelica. I believe that Primal Scream realized that they could not equal Screamadelica, and decided to move their music in a new direction, something they have often done.

A further three years passed before Primal Scream would release another album. Vanishing Point was released July 1997. Vanishing Point was named after, and inspired by the film from 1971 Vanishing Point. The idea behind the album was to make music inspired by the mood of the film, which has an air of paranoia and claustrophobia about it. Vanishing Point’s influences are clearly dub reggae, ambient music, krautrock and dance music. Guests on the album included reggae legend Augustus Pablo, Glen Matlock and The Memphis Horns.

Echo Dek, the album this article is about, was released in October 1997. Nine of the tracks from Vanishing Point were then remixed by Adrian Sherwood and released as Echo Dek. It is a difficult task to remix an album, and this has been tried many times, often with limited success. However, this is one of the best. So good is Echo Dek, that it stands alone as album. Sherwood’s huge experience as a dub reggae producer has been put to good use, and what you have is a fusion of dub reggae and rock music. When you put the album on, some great dub tracks emerge from this album.

Since releasing Echo Dek in 1997, Primal Scream have only released four futher albums, XTRMNTR was released in January 2000. It saw the band take a much more political stance, and on the album, they attacked the police, government and multinational corporations. When the album was released, is was critically acclaimed. Since then it is widely thought of as the second best Primal Scream album ever, behind Screamadelica. This was the first album that Gary “Mani” Mountfield received a songwriting credit since joining the band. 

Primal Scream’s next album Evil Heat was released in August 2002. The song was not as political as their last album. Although it is another good album by the band, Evil Heat has a darker and harder feel and sound to it. On the album Primal Scream are joined by guest artists Robert Plant and Kate Moss. Moss sang a duet with Bobby Gillespie on Some Velvet Morning, which was previously recorded by Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra.

Riot City Blues was released in June 2006. On this album the band return to a more traditional rock ‘n roll album. This did not please some critics. Showing a real lack of originality, the critics accused the band of running out of ideas, something that has been leveled at bands since rock ‘n roll started. Anyone who takes time to listen to the album, will hear some great tracks like Country Girl, We’re Gonna Boogie and Sometimes I Feel So Lonely.

The last album released by Primal Scream was Beautiful Future released in July 2008. On its release, the album was described as a mixture of Philly soul, dark electro, British pop and rock ‘n roll riffs all given the Primal Scream treatment. The album saw guest appearances from folk singer Linda Thompson and Josh Homme of Queens of the New Age. Beautiful Future was a welcome return to form for the band, and proved to the critics that the Scream were back.

Now that you know a little about Primal Scream’s history, I will now tell you why Echo Dek is such a good album. The first track is Living Dub, which begins with sound effects and booming drums. When Bobby Gillespie’s vocal emerges, it surrounded by a variety of other worldly sounds. Just as quickly as his vocal emerges, it disappears. This continues, as if playing a musical game of hide and seek. The sound is atmospheric with a capital It is a great track, one that transports you to place deep into Primal Scream and Adrian Sherwood’s worlds.

Duffed Up begins with a constant drum beat, one which gently echoes. Then into the mix, comes Eastern influenced sounds, and a muted jazz influenced trumpet sound. By now, your ear is just becoming attuned to this pleasant cornucopia of sounds. However, just when you are starting to enjoy the track, it is over. It only lasts just over three minutes. I have always felt that this is a song that could have been developed, taken further, made into an even better track than it is.

Revolutionary starts quietly, then it sorts of meanders along. Bobby Gillespie’s voice is hidden in the depth of the mix. It is surrounded by the other instruments, and has been twisted with delay and echo. There is contrast in the track between the vocal which is given the full dub treatment, and the remainder of the track which has not been subjected to such rigorous treatment by the effects. What we have ended up with, is a great track, one of the best on the album.

Ju-87 begins with a doorbell ringing and some crunching drums. The drums sit proudly at the front of the mix. Occasionally, something else enters the mix. It might be a sound, or the doorbell. Then, all of a sudden, things change. The track gets louder, faster, much faster, more is happening in the track. It is not quite frantic the sound and feel, but not far away. Your senses are assaulted. You find yourself thinking, where did that come from? Then all of a sudden, things change, the track starts to slow down slightly, there is more space in the track. Soon after, the track is over, a track which Sherwood can, quite rightly, be proud of.

First Name Unknown begins with a spoken word sample accompanied by roaring drum beats, and synthesizer producing some unrecognizable sounds. Behind that is a whispered vocal with a sinister feel to it. The drums have a repetitive beat, and are joined by another surreal sample. Overall, the track has a glorious sinister quality. There is a darkness about the track, one that draws you towards it, makes you want to experience it again, and again. 

Vanishing Dub starts with a radio playing then…stops. The track then starts again, and we hear a track that is both melodic and dark at the same time. It is a pleasant track, where the melody and drum beats take turns of grabbing the limelight. When the melody steps into the spotlight it is understated, but when the drums take their turn, the sound is big and brash. Later when Bobby Gillespie’s vocal enters the song, his vocal is clear, and sits in the centre of the mix. Just when you start to enjoy the G-man, he is gone, to be replaced by a variety of experimental sounds. These are pleasing on the ear, and help the track to wander to its end.

When you listen to Last Train, it has a melodic reggae inspired feel. The track meanders along. It sounds totally understated, as if it is always about to break out, erupt into a crescendo of noise and effects. Strangely, it never does. Effects cut in, and out off, the track. This is highly effective. I always find myself listening intently, waiting for something to happen, something that will grab your attention. However, you are left waiting, and in all honestly, the anticipation is half the fun, even though to quote Bob Marley, you are waiting in vain.

On the penultimate track on Echo Dek, Wise Blood, the tempo and sound increases. Here the sound is bigger and dominates the track. Space is at a premium, unlike on many of the tracks. During the track, the tempo is about one-hundred and thirty beats per minute. It is the second quickest track on the album. Wise Blood has a real dub influence. It is full of echo, delay and effects. The original track is twisted, and transformed into something I am sure Primal Scream could never have envisaged. To envisage this, would require quite a remarkable rock ‘n rock cocktail. However, what Adrian Sherwood has ended up with, is a fantastic fusion of rock and dub.

Echo Dek closes with Dub In Vain. At the start of the track, listen carefully and you can hear a rock ‘n roll band struggling to be heard. They are so far back in the mix, that you would need a telescope to see them. The track is really subdued, it sounds almost muddy, but brilliantly muddy. This is a track that, once you have heard it, you will want to hear again. The use of effects, and vocals to add something to the track, really works, this was a stroke of genius. A word of advice, the best way to listen to this track is really loud, so next time the neighbors are away, turn the volume up, add plenty of bass, and hit play. Enjoy.

I have listened to Echo Dek many times since it came out. It has always been an album that has intrigued me. Also, it has also been one that i have always enjoyed. Although not a true studio album, Echo Dek could not have been made without Primal Scream having made Vanishing Point. What is interesting is to listen to Vanishing Point and then listen to Echo Dek. If you do so, you will be struck by how Adrian Sherwood has transformed the music on Vanishing Point. He has done a wonderful job. Truly, it is a work of a genius. Every track on Echo Dek is of the highest quality. Throughout the album, your attention never wavers, you are transfixed, scared to lose concentration, just in case you miss something. You never know what will happen next. Even when you have listened to the album as many times as I have, each time you listen to it, you hear sounds and subtle nuances, that you missed the previous time you listened to it. Having read this article, you should find yourself thinking about buying Echo Dek, my advice is go ahead, you will not regret it. Echo Dek is a great album, and a great listen. My only word of advice would be, get a copy of Vanishing Point, so that you can compare and contrast the two albums.

Primal Scream have long been one of my favorite groups. I have been a fan since day one, and have watched them emerge, and evolve as a band. During the past twenty-nine years, their musical styles have changed. They have reinvented themselves numerous times, and are one of rock music’s great survivors, and I don’t mean just in the musical sense. Primal Scream have lived the life that any self-respecting rock band should live. Sometimes that has lead to carnage and overindulgence, and some of the group contracting, ahem, rock ‘n roll flu. However, they have all come out the other side, mostly unharmed. It could be that they are one of the last great hedonistic groups of our time. It seems that nowadays, music is full of little ex-public school boys, who form dreary little nu-folk bands, and sing about being poor, something they have never experienced. Sadly, the music press love this tedious nonsense, and are all to prepared to write self indulgent puff pieces on those tawdry little bands, and their tedious music. Lord help us if that is the future of music. If it is, we should rejoice that bands like the Scream are still about, still rebelling, still hedonistic and still producing great music. Bobby Gillespie and the rest of Primal Scream, I salute you, your hedonistic rock ‘n roll lifestyle has been a thing of beauty, keep it up. Standout Tracks: Living Dub, Revolutionary, First Name Unknown and Vanishing Dub.

PRIMAL SCEAM-ECHO DEK.