The Echo Veils - Roses Are Dreams- Progressive Voyages Review
THE ECHO VEILS – Roses Are Dreams
Roses Are Dreams is the impressive sophomore album release by The Echo Veils – the musical project of the Mexican musician and songwriter, Guillermo Garcia Herreros and his lifelong friend and musical collaborator, Policarpo Elizondo (or Poli for short). The pair had previously worked together in another project, The Fi Rules, over a decade earlier.
I was first made aware of Guillermo’s musical talents with the 2021 titular debut release from his band, Electro Compulsive Theory. The album showcased a captivating mix of melodic and atmospheric prog and art rock with contemplative and melancholic vocals and hypnotic, flowing instrumentation. It remains an album I would still heartedly recommend to anyone still unaware of it.
In 2024 Guillermo and Poli created a more intimate and song-driven musical project with The Echo Veils - blending progressive alternative rock, cinematic textures, post-rock dynamics and emotionally driven songwriting, Their musical vision was to find a sonic contrast between Guillermo’s intimate, dreamy and reflective vocals and more atmospheric and ethereal soundscapes, especially with Poli’s expressive guitar playing – all framing a lyrical content looking at love, fear and loss, the past, present and future, but with the emotional angst balanced by hope.
The creative result was a beautiful and engaging album, called The Calm Beneath the Noise, that was lyrically intense with atmospheric instrumentation, that switched from pure, yearning intimacy to sweeping and widescreen soundscapes. It was an intriguing musical tapestry mixing the richness of art rock and progressive influences with singer-songwriter delicacy and fragility.
Over the last few years both have been busy on a follow-up and they seem to have amassed enough material for several albums. I have been very fortunate to follow their creative processes as they have shared a wide range of demos and mixes of many songs, along with alternative album track selections and ordering. However, I can confidently state that the final version of Roses Are Dreams they have presented, easily matched the quality of their debut, with a well-balanced selection of lyrically rich and musically progressive tracks exploring emotional fragmentation, memory, isolation and transcendence through cinematic soundscapes and progressive songwriting.
Guillermo’s expressive, accented vocals, delicate piano and synths provide the rich and deep musical foundation to the album, but it is Poli’s soaring guitars and supporting instrumentation that makes the music take flight and creates such a delightful synergy – with great support from some quality guest musicians, especially Marco Renteria on bass and Andrew Joseph on drums on most of the 7 tracks.
Roses Are Dreams begins the album sprightly, with the energetic and appealing title track. It has a memorable and catchy introductory guitar-driven riff from Poli that shuffles between 7/8 and 4/4 to show the internal conflict and emotional turmoil of the story, with some lovely electric guitar solos flowing through it, and all driven by a shifting rhythmic tempo from Marco and Andrew. Yet, by contrast, the verses are more intimate and acoustic guitar-led, with Guillermo’s soft and fragile vocals adding a more emotional tone as the song takes us on a journey of self-discovery. It explores both the mind-altering experience of drugs and the dark path towards substance abuse – giving an intimate portrait of untreated psychological trauma and the desire to escape the pains of the real world. The atmospheric synths soar high later, whilst also providing an evocative soundscape over which the main instrumentation sails. Poli’s daughter, Lorena, duets with Guillermo towards the end, enhancing the surreal ambience of this complex and diverse composition very well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBLodEqcskQ&list=RDfBLodEqcskQ&start_radio=1
Rising Sand has a more haunting character to it, beginning with a contemplative acoustic guitar arpeggio in 7/8, with Andrew’s linear and broken drum groove providing an unsettling feel. Guillermo’s dreamy vocals and harmonies, combined with reverse echo effects, create a deep sense of space and desolation. The lyrics reflect on the sands of time and the burden of being human – struggling against the darkness within our own minds, whilst searching for what makes life worth fighting for. The chorus and bridge transition into a 6/8 feel, setting the stage for an uplifting chord progression that drives the track forward – and Poli delivers another of his trademark, yearning electric guitar solos later. The intensity builds as we are reminded that deep inside, we are all the same, and then the 7/8 groove returns and gives way to Marco’s rich bass riff, accompanied by desert wind sounds – reminding us of both our mortality and yet the beauty of living in the moment.
A Dark Place is wonderfully sombre and forlorn song, with its beautifully ethereal and atmospheric soundscape grounded by Guillermo’s smoky and thoughtful vocals which establish the mood for an exorcism of the darkness within, gradually giving a glimpse of the light that lies ahead, and a reminder of that there is always a path towards a better place. Scott Apted provides the shimmering drum patterns, alongside Marco’s moody bass runs, with Guillermo’s subtle piano, and Poli’s and Roger Cerda’s sustained and bowed guitar notes. A brief guitar solo lifts us imperceptibly out of the darkness, as we hear “There’s always an exit.”
Turmoil is a beautiful piano ballad, concerning two hearts melting into one, and the nostalgia of being separated from true love. The vocals and harmonies have a deeply intimate and soul-bearing feel, with synth strings, bass and guitar complementing them, with the whole song capturing the beautiful agony found in the search for happiness. Percussion shakers and a soaring, but tantalisingly brief, guitar solo round off this song very effectively.
Keep Breathing has a raw, electro-industrial, bass-driven intro and immersive sound that draws you into something mysterious and unsettling. It twists and turns well, with multi-layered instrumentation and dark, sinister and searching vocals. The song confronts the recognition of our own flaws and the destructive habits that slowly pull us apart. The down-tempo middle section recreates the struggle of trying to stay above water emotionally and spiritually – and ultimately these struggles transform us into something stronger and more beautiful. Guillermo’s wide range of vocal styles certainly impress here. The music builds up strongly with a burst of expressive keyboards and then guitar, and a dynamic rhythm section, with this final progressive riff symbolising the ongoing internal battle to “keep breathing” and continue moving forward. This is top-notch, introspective and contemporary progressive music, for sure.
Burn As One begins with a gorgeous opening electric guitar loop and descending chord progression, establishing a mood of surrender and acknowledgment of what truly matters – becoming a call “to burn as one” and become unified. Initially, the vocals flow dreamily with the relaxed instrumentation and intricate drumming, with soothing flute sounds adding to the mood. However, there is an unexpected burst of power, vocally and instrumentally, in the bridge section, that really shakes things up – acting as a battle cry to let everything in and embrace the sweetness of existence. It returns to the original theme and some gorgeous bowed and solo electric guitar, before then rising in intensity with a swell of soulful guitar and then an emotional solo, as soul-bearing vocals accompany it – representing transformation and rebirth. As with the whole of the album, the song is rich in emotional depth.
The Waiting Game ends the album impressively, with an anthematic song that starts gently and broodily with atmospheric bass notes and a pleasing slightly higher vocal register from Guillermo over ethereal soundscapes. It is all about a renewed man seeing the world clearly for the first time. There is a real echo of U2 at their most cinematic here, with the call to “keep the faith” and then the driving kick drum and bass foundation in the first chorus representing the beating heart. The musical tension builds up before the emotional dam breaks, and we get a truly moving and expansive conclusion with orchestral elements and brass. Scott and Samuel Apted add more vocals and drums, with more of Poli’s family – Andy on cello and Federico on trumpet and trombone – creating a glorious amalgam of sound, as Guillermo’s vocals state the meaning behind the song and the album: “It’s all about the journey. The waiting game is over.” We are finally ready to embrace life fully and accept it exactly as it is. “The roses are gone.”
The Echo Veils have succeeded in producing another immersive and engaging release with Roses Are Dreams – once again mixing introspective, personal and cathartic songwriting with alternative rock with progressive elements, art rock sensibilities and ambient aesthetics. This is an album that reveals its emotional character steadily with repeated listens and the charm of Guillermo’s distinctive warm, fragile and smoky vocals soon mingle with the atmospheric instrumentation to create a refreshingly different listening experience to be savoured. Check it out on Bandcamp. It’s all about the journey… the waiting game is over!
Bandcamp: https:theeechovels.bandcamp.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/echoveils
Author-’David Edwards - Friday 22nd may 226