E (Ecco2K album)
E | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 27 November 2019 | |||
Length | 30:23 | |||
Label | Year0001 | |||
Producer | Gud, Whitearmor, Shanti, Mechatok | |||
Ecco2K chronology | ||||
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Singles from E | ||||
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E (stylized as an estimated sign, ℮) is the debut solo studio album by Swedish-British singer Ecco2K. A surprise album, it was released on 27 November 2019 through Year0001.
Background and production[edit]
Before the release of E, Ecco2K was known for his participation in other people's projects, including as a member of Drain Gang, as the creative director of Yung Lean and as the music video editor of Yves Tumor.[1][2]
E was recorded in Stockholm, Berlin, Los Angeles, London, Falun, and Bangkok.[3] Ecco2K described the winter of 2018, when the album was still in its early stages, as "a period of rapid growth and self-discovery";[4] he had just left his day job as a designer and photo retoucher at Eytys.[4][5] To record E, Ecco2K purposefully secluded himself from collaborators and friends. He described the process as "the first time where [he] started to get assisted".[4]
The album was executive-produced by Gud and Whitearmor.[4] It was preceded by singles "AAA Powerline" and "Fruit Bleed Juice", with the latter receiving a music video.[4] After the album's release, Ecco2K toured Europe.[6] On 29 January 2020, Arogundade released a music video "Peroxide",[6] which was recorded at the Lillgrund Wind Farm.[5] On 30 July, he released a music video for "Security!".[7]
Composition[edit]
Jordan Darville of The Fader described E as a "project of subliminal bangers", with a feel that was "regal-yet-desolate, like a marble sculpture of some unspeakable tragedy".[2] David Crone of AllMusic wrote that E consolidated the futuristic sound Ecco2K was developing that decade.[8] A writer from Dazed said that the album presents "a breezy take on contemporary pop", contrasting with Ecco2K's previous rap works.[9]
"Peroxide" is a futuristic pop song.[5] Thomas Sobolik of The Face wrote that the track "sets the stage for E's bracing self-portrayal".[4]
Reception[edit]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Pitchfork | 7.4/10 |
The Needle Drop | 7/10[a] |
Reviewing the album for Pitchfork, Nadine Smith gave a rating of 7.4/10 and stated that E "trades hip-hop for an expressive—and surprisingly pretty—take on contemporary pop," and that "[n]o longer just a below-the-line collaborator or background associate, on E [Ecco2K] finally steps into the spotlight".[1] Nöjesguiden writer Levi Hielle-Bergstrom said that "E is brilliant in its idiosyncrasy."[11] Zac Cazes wrote to The Quietus that E "does little to dispel the artist's sense of mystery".[12]
Track listing[edit]
All tracks are written by Gud, whitearmor and Mechatok, with addititonal writer segments added to include smaller collaborations.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "AAA Powerline" | Sean Bowie · Arogundade | 4:12 |
2. | "Peroxide" | 3:34 | |
3. | "Fragile" | 2:53 | |
4. | "Bliss Fields" | 0:22 | |
5. | "Fruit Bleed Juice" | Bowie · Arogundade | 1:12 |
6. | "Cc" | 2:34 | |
7. | "Calcium" | 3:44 | |
8. | "Sugar & Diesel" | 3:19 | |
9. | "Don't Ask" | 2:20 | |
10. | "Security!" | Berlander · Timur Tokdemir · Arogundade | 2:35 |
11. | "Time" | 2:01 | |
12. | "Blue Eyes" | 1:33 | |
Total length: | 30:23 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
13. | "Life After Life" | 2:22 |
Total length: | 32:45 |
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Smith, Nathan (6 January 2020). "Ecco2k: E Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
- ^ a b Darville, Jordan (27 November 2019). "Listen to Ecco2k's debut album E". The Fader. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
- ^ Borrelli-Person, Laird (27 November 2019). "Swedish Musician Ecco2K Drops a Surprise Solo Album (and an Extreme New Look)". Vogue. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Sobolik, Thomas (2 December 2019). "Ecco2K's second coming of age". The Face. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ a b c Dandridge-Lemco, Ben (2 June 2020). "Zak Arogundade, a Musician and Designer From Stockholm". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ a b Darville, Jordan (29 January 2020). "Ecco2k surveys a waterworld in the 'Peroxide' video". The Fader. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
- ^ Maicki, Salvatore (30 July 2020). "Ecco2k bathes in light in his new video for 'Security!'". The Fader. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
- ^ Crone, David. "Ecco2K Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
- ^ "Drain is officially a genre: here are five Drain Gang albums to stream now". Dazed. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ Fantano, Anthony (13 December 2019). Ecco2K – E Album Review. The Needle Drop. Retrieved 29 April 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ Hielle-Bergstrom, Levi (2 December 2019). "Ecco2k: E". Nöjesguiden. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
- ^ Cazes, Zac (13 January 2020). "Reviews: Ecco2k: E". The Quietus. Retrieved 3 February 2020.