Eco - M(You)Sic (Artist Album) [2011]

[Archon]

A modern-era masterpiece from Eco. Lots of great sound-design, lots of great builds, emotional melodies, riffs and even simple swells - all of those can just produce shivers. Definitely something for the headphones and uninterrupted listening.

Since it is one of my favourite albums of all time, I will review it below, track-by-track.

I will not post the embeds here firstly because it is an album. But I will provide links to where you can listen to it or buy it. You can't just listen to one track and judge it fully. Take your time and listen to the entire thing.

Here's a short statement from Eco about the album:

I really wanted it to be an 80 minute statement, a journey for people to get lost in. I want it to be more than the sum of its parts, something that can only be truly understood, loved, or appreciated if heard from start to finish! This is wishful thinking, but above all, I want it to be something that true all-around music-lovers can listen to and say 'wow, that's pretty good!'.

Tracklist:

1. Intro
2. After All...
3. Wide Open
4. Architextures [Part 1]
5. Architextures [Part 2]
6. The Stream Turned Into Ocean
7. Breaking The Habit
8. Electric Poetry
9. Under Paper Skies
10. Hellovators [Part 1 Going In]
11. Hellovators [Part 2 Going Up]
12. My Name Is You(th)
13. Change The World
14. The Light In Your Eyes Went Out
15. Mali [Part 1 Going In]
16. Mali [Part 2 Going Up]
17. Over Paper Skies

Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/Eco-MYouSic/release/5317995
Beatport: M(You)Sic from Armada Music Albums on Beatport

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[Archon]

How many shivers can you get from an album???




Intro and After All... (ft. Kerry Leva)

Right from the start we can guess this album is going to be an exploration of sound design, some vocals and powerful melodies. Intro is short, but potent, and builds perfectly into After All..., which is a sweet, sweet track with amazing vocals by Kerry Leva. It's second track but the album is already in full force.

Wide Open (with Breakfast)

Don't let this track fool you with it's groovy beat! As it was made in collaboration with Breakfast, the powerful, emotional melodies and an even better build up will happen. Initially, one of my favourites.

Architextures (Part 1 and Part 2)

These two little nuggets have a deserving name. Full of great, textured sounds. Part 1 is more downtempo, and Part 2 gets a bit dubstepy, while having the same melodic elements as Part 1. Exploration again by Eco.

The Stream Turned Into Ocean

Aaaand back to trance. From the first couple of notes, I was hooked. This was that recognizable Eco. Melodies and riffs all over, great beats, an evolving track, and a powerful build-up and climax.

Breaking The Habit (feat. Einat)

Vocals again, this time by Einat. This time, you can sing along. What a track! Emotions all over again. Pure euphoria here.

Electric Poetry

Starts kind of slow and unambitious, but turns into a beauty. A perfect build for what's about to follow.

Under Paper Skies

And now...my favourite track from the album. Peak-time track. Combines everything I love about this album: some vocals, great sound-design, textures and experimentation. Builds up perfectly. Teases all the time throughout with melodies, pad swells and vocals - after the first build the intro starts, and you can feel the energy of it. But the real beauty starts in the breakdown, or rather the second build. It still teases throughout, for some time, and just explodes all at once. The most powerful uplifter I've ever heard, and it's definitely unlike anything I've ever heard before. It's hard to follow this with a good track...

Hellovators (Part 1 Going In and Part 2 Going Up)

...but Eco manages just that. This one is less energetic, but almost as intense. Has a strange main melody, but it works so well. And it encapsulates the exact reason why I love this album so much: You won't hear stuff like this anywhere else! It's so unique, but at the same time very accessible and recognizable.

My Name Is You(th) (ft. Eller van Buuren)

This one's all about that guitar. Initially, one of my favourites. Such a sweet, but very emotional track, akin to Coming Home (by Armin and Eller van Buuren).

Change The World (feat. Radmila)

Great track - very spacey, large-sounding techno beats, with nice vocals. Eventually it turns into a huge, almost distorted melody.

The Light In Your Eyes Went Out

Classic Eco once again. One of my other favourites. If you take anything away from this track, let it be that melody that appears only in the breakdown. Very emotional stuff.

Mali (Part 1 Going In and Part 2 Going Up)

The album, seemingly, comes to a calm ending. But Part 2 gets its climax.

Over Paper Skies (feat. Jeza)

Another uplifter, and another one of Eco's melodies here. A sweet ending for a great album.




Conclusion:

Is this album perfect musically? No. Does it have its faults? Of course. So what? This album seems personal, it seems like it was made by an imperfect being, giving his best effort in translating his visions and ideas from his head to his computer. And it's still amazing. It's minimally influenced by other artists and works. All you can ask for.

The answer is infinite, by the way. It never fails to give me shivers.

 

[Archon]

Got a bit carried away with this one, but it always produces a strong emotional reaction from me. That's really rare for me. In any case, hope you enjoy!

 

[Tievb21]

Absolutely fantastic album. Huge classic! Listening it today feels so fresh after more than a decade. I own Wolves and Constellations In You//1 CDs, I really wish I had bought back then but I was so young and I didn't. Shame Armada never released CIY2 in physical. Also, dunno if M(you)Sic CD was limited edition too, I can hardly find it on Discogs.

If someone here do know where I can find it in logical price, please let me know.

 

[Redrot]

Both of Eco's albums are some of the only examples of modern trance albums that I still listen to on a semi-regular basis. Wolves moreso actually, but I've got a special place in my heart for both of them.

His 3rd album was supposed to release last year but well, you know how it goes with Eco...

 

[Archon]

His 3rd album was supposed to release last year but well, you know how it goes with Eco...

I always say, I'd rather wait for something special than be served something hurried.

 

[Daysleeper]

I dont know if its a generational thing or people who started to listen to asot in 2010 ish that like this because to me it just sound like the typical "dry" minimal snappy productions with really unconventional synthmelodies (square synths in particular) from that same time period. Its ok, but its badly produced and the music just feels off to me, cant explain it. its dry and mechanical sort of.

its jsut a mishmash of sounds from 2009-2013 from artists like andrew bayer,w&w heatbeat, parker&hanson, rafael frost,deadma5,norin &rad,armin mirage era stuff.

 

[Uplifted]

Got it on CD, as far as I remember it's a nice journey album.

 

[Altair]

IMO one of the best trance albums ever made. It showcases Eco's already unique sound in a sort of quasi-cinematic concept album. There's a sort of story uniting these tracks that isn't really told, but your imagination can fill in the rest of the details.

 

[Tievb21]

Got it on CD, as far as I remember it's a nice journey album.

If you ever want to sell part of your collection and it's one of them let me know.

 

[Bobby Summa]

I think I remember him releasing this but was disappointed that it was under the ‘Eco’ name. Id heard lots under his moniker ‘DJ Eco’ and he became the original creater of styles/use of fx and melody mixed with emotions that wasn’t found before in trance. Then it seemed as if everyone stole his sound and copied it. Badly compared to him. I wasn’t really sure what was going on when he appeared as just ‘Eco with Armin’s yearly compilation album ASOT 20?? (around 2012,- not sure. ). The teack on A state of Trance compilation was as if he had watered his music down to make it more palatable for those who can’t take high extreme passion and emotion in music and basically will never appreciate proper works of genius. I felt very much sorry for him if he had indeed done this to get the acknowledgment he deserved for being groundbreaking. But. If its not that reason, I don’t know why he made that track.

I think when the album came out I had been hoping for more higher music. But only flicked through it then.

I look forward to giving it a proper listen. He's a man who ‘if he chose too’ could elevate minds and emotions to an unbelievable land. I hope i feel that while listening in full.

 

[Archon]

I think I remember him releasing this but was disappointed that it was under the ‘Eco’ name. Id heard lots under his moniker ‘DJ Eco’ and he became the original creater of styles/use of fx and melody mixed with emotions that wasn’t found before in trance. Then it seemed as if everyone stole his sound and copied it. Badly compared to him. I wasn’t really sure what was going on when he appeared as just ‘Eco with Armin’s yearly compilation album ASOT 20?? (around 2012,- not sure. ). The teack on A state of Trance compilation was as if he had watered his music down to make it more palatable for those who can’t take high extreme passion and emotion in music and basically will never appreciate proper works of genius. I felt very much sorry for him if he had indeed done this to get the acknowledgment he deserved for being groundbreaking. But. If its not that reason, I don’t know why he made that track.

I think when the album came out I had been hoping for more higher music. But only flicked through it then.

I look forward to giving it a proper listen. He's a man who ‘if he chose too’ could elevate minds and emotions to an unbelievable land. I hope i feel that while listening in full.

I would never say the album was watered down. Different, yes. But not watered down. I loved his DJ Eco stuff too. Tonight is Forever (Martin Roth Edit) has blown me away on first listen, whereas this album took its sweet time.

 

[Bobby Summa]

I would never say the album was watered down. Different, yes. But not watered down. I loved his DJ Eco stuff too. Tonight is Forever (Martin Roth Edit) has blown me away on first listen, whereas this album took its sweet time.

I will give it a listen right now bud. Like i say, years ago I didn’t give much of it a listen (hopefully a mistake).

Will report back.

{lots of edits in this comment at various points while listening to the album}

Im 3 mins in so far.

Straight away one can tell it’s phenomenal if the standard continues.

30 mins in, everything is quite incredible so far.

got to electric poetry. Did he listen to deadmau5 or did deadmau5 listen to electric poetry?

Ok. Ive just got to the end of under paper skies. Sadly my exhaustion condition is getting to me and my focus is severely dropping. Il be asleep soon if i keep listening no matter what. My mind is getting too soothed by it as it’s incredibly therapeutic. Add that to tiredness and =

For some reason i thought it was a much shorter album so thought id be able to hear it in one go. I can tell exactly why it should be listened to in one shot.

It’s a work of genius.
Hes got an incredible way of dealing with fx. Haven’t heard anything like it. Just what i loved about his music when i first heard a DJ eco track.

I believe genius can be described as ‘a state of pure clarity within a specific process or creation your carrying out’ . This is what Eco / DJ eco has with music. @Archon. Sorry I couldn’t listen to the album in one shot today. Il do it all another day.

 

[Redrot]

I would never say the album was watered down. Different, yes. But not watered down. I loved his DJ Eco stuff too. Tonight is Forever (Martin Roth Edit) has blown me away on first listen, whereas this album took its sweet time.

If anything IMO it's pretty closer stylistically to some of his old stuff - Kids of New York, Air Guitar, the American Blues EPs, Supercollider. He started off with the more banging stuff like Tonight Is Forever and Mouth Without a Voice but ditched it pretty early on.

 

[Tievb21]

@Redrot DJ Eco - Dusk from Supercollider EP is one of the best euphoric trance tracks imo with that melody and atmosphere. Absolutely incredible hidden gem of this scene. If this has come out from a big name it would be a huge classic hit. It's perfect. Also the whole Desert Song EP is super euphoric. I love it.

Modern classic releases imho. My future kids will enjoy them for sure.

 

[Lem]

This cult album is 13 years old today, gentlemens

 

[Hensmon]

I had a good amount of time with this one when it came out, I like it for the most part but wouldn't say it stuck with me that much from a taste perspective. I do like how it feels like a true album, with enough variety but still keeping itself in trance/prog without having to go into other genres to try and keep things fresh. This one below I think is my favourite form the album

Electric Poetry