”This surprisingly stunning release from Echo Us starts with a wall of the most incredible siren screams I've heard in a long time. While electronic in nature, this album is NOT synthpop. It is a mournful, empowering masterpiece. My jaw dropped about 10 stories. This band should be doing movie scores, the kinds that win awards and burn themselves into the hearts of their listeners. Who would enjoy this album? Anyone who listens to it. This album is available now through their website - absoluteprobability.com. Ethan Matthews has created something truly memorable that is worth listening to over and over again.” (Poseidon)
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There is something ephemeral about Ethan Matthews, the sole wonder behind Echo Us; it’s hard to even define his musical ingenuity. Listening to this nine tracker brings images of vast oceans in a totally isolated galaxy, which is being innocently dragged into the darkness of another dimension. Also, Ethan’s eclectic singing, heavily influenced by the prog rock bands of the eighties adds even more aroma to the trance-lie scent produced on memorable psychedelic rockers: “Directed Study” and “Who Loves You”. Besides these two numbers, this album is a work of talent and creativity of the highest order. Don’t let this pass you by. Sarjoo Devani.
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Here we have another one-man band, this one is based in the electronica side of progressive rock. The band is called Echo Us, and from the website the man behind it, Ethan Matthews, was in a band called Greyhaven. They seem to be on a hiatus or dissolved. I haven’t heard them so I won’t comment on the differences between the two bands. 

The music on Echo Us’ debut is as the aforementioned based in electronica with nods to symphonic progressive music and ambient. The music flows almost like a soundtrack with it’s cinematic qualities to the songwritting. The mood is dark and dreamy throughout the album with brooding vocals. 

From the several listens, I found that Echo Us does musically what the latest Chroma Key should have done, by making the songs jump out at you not put you to sleep. This is one of those releases that takes several listens to sink in but when it does, you have yourself a keeper. It’s one of the 2004 releases that needs to be heard by more people. Take a chance, you won't regret it! 

Reviewed by Ron Fuchs (www.Prognaut.com) on February 8th, 2005
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Echo Us was originally conceived of by its founders "Matthews and Cahoon" as a group of above-average musicians playing electronic-techno-pop around Boston, MA. Echo Us’ goal at the time was oriented toward commercial success with fairly short and concise songs making up the first two demos and short string of live shows. Shows continued until late October of 2001, until various differences between the four members became insurmountable and ultimately much to stressful to deal with. During the spring months of 2002 Ethan compiled what he had from the former venture and started writing new material and re-arranging his older songs beyond recognition. In late July of 2002 "Kai Kurasawa" joined Ethan for the recording of 5 songs. Kai was the 4th member of the original Echo Us. After these sessions Ethan spent August of ’02 through June of 2003 finishing his music degree and putting Echo Us on a major hold- other than composing 3 new songs: Directed Study, In the Fall, and White Wednesday during this time. He also moved back to the west coast up to Portland, Oregon where he finished writing and recording the debut Echo Us record. The sound that has come out of this transformation in 2002 and 2003 is broad stylistically, created primarily synthetically, and oriented towards dark but sometimes quirky lyrics. Some songs have a commercial appeal but the energy of the project from 2002 to the present is oriented away from the immediacy that was integral to the Matthews Cahoon partnership of 2000-2001 toward a more open and free compositional approach. Echo Us are more than a electronic instrumental masterpiece. The music from them, blends electronic elements from "Tangerine Dream", "Jean-Michel Jarre", but with a modern musical way. All the themes take the listener into a fantastic electronic space sound travel, living into an amazing journey through around ambient music, where synthesizers and electronic textures became hypnotic with cosmic interpretation, we can hear an impressive number of electronic keyboards sounds. If you love Electronic and Ambient music with touchs of Progressive Rock elements they are the best way with a pretty original sound. Echo Us is an amazing album with an impressive number of electronic keyboards sounds, includint enjoyable progressive tunes or even driven or up-tempo variations. Check this album out, and find out why Echo Us will surprise the electronic ambient scene. "Echo Us" Was recorded and mixed in 2003, all songs, sound disign, mixed and programming by Ethan Matthews. An inventive mix of electronic influences Echo Us features nine tracks of edgy yet delicate and ambient music by the 25-year-old artist. Art and Design by Ethan Matthews and Brian Francis. A special and particular attention to and my favourite songs are: "Dreaming", "Directed Study", "Her heart’s Army/ White Wednesday", "Who Loves You", "I Radiate I" and "Black Thursday". Echo Us are: Ethan Matthews all instruments, special guest playing Bass on "Who Loves You" by Kai Kurasawa. Brilliant and indispensable work, highly recommendable... (Comments by Carlos Vaz)
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