Io Echo #2 - Ministry of Love

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IO Echo are I band I've been looking forward to hearing more of since the uplifting pomp flurry of "When The Lillies Die" first entered my horizon and it's no surprise to see it form the backbone of the LA duo's first, self-titled EP, which also features the equally magnificent "Shanghai Girls", another track I briefly mentioned in my 'Introducing' post in July.

The EP is due for release through Luv Luv Luv (who also put out the last release by the wonderful Tashaki Miyaki) in November (available now in the US via iTunes) who, to get the adrenaline pumping all that more have released another track from it, "Ministry of Love", which fizzes with 80's synth soundscapes amongst thumping industrial rhythms and Cure-esque bass lines, with Ioanna Gika's gorgeous, sultry-smooth vocals equally as beautiful as the slightly dark, ethereal melody.

IO Echo play four dates in the UK next week, for FREE tickets sign up to the guest-list here (London/Manchester/Nottingham/Brighton).

IO ECHO - When The Lilies Die

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Sometimes you miss seeing bands for no reason other than fatigue / lazliness, one such instance for me was IO Echo, they played at a venue I'm still yet to go to (London's Birthdays) a week or so after The Great Escape alongside fellow new band (and keenly admired) PINS but after I'd seen the latter at TGE I decided to rest my weary bones at home instead of heading out to Dalston. I might have made the wrong decision, I'd not heard of IO Echo (aka Ioanna Gika and Leopold Ross) then, their debut single "When The Lilies Die" came my way only recently (I'm aware it's a an updated version of a track that's been floating around for a while now) and I was instantly sold.

The video combines a real Eastern aesthetic with a headlong adrenalin rush of crunching drums, shoegaze guitar textures, oriental rhythms and gorgeous, silky smooth vocals, it's a wonderful slice of uplifting pop, just what I need as I quickly write a blog on my lunch break before returning to a pile of unwelcoming work and then home to box upon box of unpacking (I've moved house, hence the temporary slow-down here).

IO Echo's debut album Ministry of Love is due September 11th and is definitely one to keep an eye out for, especially if fellow early track "Shanghai Girls" is anything to go by..