E (Ecco2K album)

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E
White cover with a large estimated sign in the center. Small texts of the track list and release date line the top and bottom.
Studio album by
Released27 November 2019
Length30:23
LabelYear0001
ProducerGud, Whitearmor, Shanti, Mechatok
Ecco2K chronology
Trash Island
(2019)
E
(2019)
PXE
(2021)
Singles from E
  1. "AAA Powerline"
    Released: 2 February 2018
  2. "Fruit Bleed Juice"
    Released: 25 November 2019

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]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Pitchfork7.4/10
The Needle Drop7/10[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.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."AAA Powerline"Sean Bowie · Arogundade4:12
2."Peroxide" 3:34
3."Fragile" 2:53
4."Bliss Fields" 0:22
5."Fruit Bleed Juice"Bowie · Arogundade1:12
6."Cc" 2:34
7."Calcium" 3:44
8."Sugar & Diesel" 3:19
9."Don't Ask" 2:20
10."Security!"Berlander · Timur Tokdemir · Arogundade2:35
11."Time" 2:01
12."Blue Eyes" 1:33
Total length:30:23
Physical edition bonus track
No.TitleLength
13."Life After Life"2:22
Total length:32:45

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Fantano gave it a "strong 6 to a light 7".[10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Smith, Nathan (6 January 2020). "Ecco2k: E Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  2. ^ a b Darville, Jordan (27 November 2019). "Listen to Ecco2k's debut album E". The Fader. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  3. ^ Borrelli-Person, Laird (27 November 2019). "Swedish Musician Ecco2K Drops a Surprise Solo Album (and an Extreme New Look)". Vogue. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Sobolik, Thomas (2 December 2019). "Ecco2K's second coming of age". The Face. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ a b Darville, Jordan (29 January 2020). "Ecco2k surveys a waterworld in the 'Peroxide' video". The Fader. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  7. ^ Maicki, Salvatore (30 July 2020). "Ecco2k bathes in light in his new video for 'Security!'". The Fader. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  8. ^ Crone, David. "Ecco2K Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Drain is officially a genre: here are five Drain Gang albums to stream now". Dazed. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  10. ^ Fantano, Anthony (13 December 2019). Ecco2K – E Album Review. The Needle Drop. Retrieved 29 April 2024 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ Hielle-Bergstrom, Levi (2 December 2019). "Ecco2k: E". Nöjesguiden. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  12. ^ Cazes, Zac (13 January 2020). "Reviews: Ecco2k: E". The Quietus. Retrieved 3 February 2020.